Ewe condition at weaning has long-term effect

It’s hard to believe for some people, but the decisions you make about weaning in 2025 can directly influence your 2026 lamb crop, writes Nerys Wright.

While much attention is rightly given to preparing ewes for tupping, research shows that their body condition score (BCS) and liveweight at weaning have a lasting impact—not just on scanning results, but also on the weight of lambs at weaning 12 months later.

As we navigate a dry summer, it may be tempting to delay weaning due to limited grass availability. However, timely weaning—ideally around 12 weeks of age—is essential for both ewe recovery and lamb performance.

By this stage, lambs are consuming very little milk and rely more on grazing or hard feed. Ewes and lambs begin to compete directly for the same dry matter intake, which can limit lamb growth and prevent ewes from regaining the condition they need ahead of breeding.

Weaning allows ewes to rebuild condition without the demands of lactation—especially important when forage is scarce. Thin ewes need every opportunity to recover before tupping, as poor condition can negatively affect fertility and scanning percentages.

On good grazing, it typically takes 6–8 weeks to gain one unit of BCS, so giving ewes this time is vital to ensure they’re in optimal shape for breeding.

It also opens the door to more targeted lamb management. Once separated, lambs can be grouped by weight and fed accordingly to maintain growth rates, even under challenging grazing conditions.

While early weaning in a dry year might feel counterintuitive, it’s a strategic move that protects ewe condition, supports lamb growth, and lays the foundation for a productive breeding season and a strong lamb crop next year.

Top Tip: Wean lambs by 12 weeks and monitor ewe BCS closely. Prioritise thinner ewes for better grazing or supplementary feed. If ewes aren’t gaining at least half a BCS unit after 3-4 weeks, consult your vet or advisor to rule out underlying health issues.

Nerys Wright is an independent sheep consultant. For more details, call 07891 187643 or visit sheepconsultancy.co.uk.

Shearers team up for new British record

Two young sheep shearers teamed up to achieve a new British record earlier last month.

Gethin Lewis from Rhayader and Llyr Evans from Aberystwyth achieved a new eight-hour two-stand British ewe shearing record. Gethin was also successful in setting a new British individual record.

Shearing started at 7 am at Gethin’s farm in Cwmdauddwr, Rhayader. The last ewe was shorn at 5 pm after four shearing runs. A total of 1,364 ewes shorn in eight hours – beating the existing record of 1,075 ewes which had stood since 2019.

‘Delighted’

Both shearers were also up for the eight-hour solo British record of 663 ewes held by Huw Jones from the previous week.  Llyr shore 668 and Gethin became the new record holder, shearing 696 ewes.

Catching up with both shearers at the end of their successful attempt, Gethin said: “I’m delighted that our attempt was successful.  It’s been a 12-month journey preparing for today, but all the hard work has been worth it.”

Speaking about the hot weather, Llyr added: “The extreme heat made the challenge more difficult and at times during the day it was extremely difficult and we both needed to dig deep to get through to the end.”

Gareth Jones, of British Wool, said: “Setting a shearing record requires not only personal dedication and skill but also the collective effort of a strong support team. We commend everyone involved in making this success possible.”

The Welsh Air Ambulance and Brain Tumour Research were the nominated charities, with fundraising taking place during the day.