Drought, poor forage and bluetongue are adding to fertility risks ahead of the breeding season
Sheep farmers have only a narrow window to correct ewe condition before tupping, with drought, poor grass growth and bluetongue increasing the risk of weaker fertility and fewer lambs next spring.
Drought conditions are affecting 71% of the UK, leaving many farms reliant on forage supplies that would normally be reserved for winter.
Heat stress, disease and parasite pressures are adding to the challenge, meaning ewes may not be in the condition producers would usually expect at this point in the breeding cycle.
Livestock nutrition specialist Fevara is urging farmers to assess body condition score now, as improving ewe condition can take time and delays could affect ovulation and ultimately lambing percentage.
Euan Hart, trade team leader at Fevara, said: “Body condition score is the critical thing now. It takes a good long time to move a ewe up by one body condition score, so knowing where they are and doing something about it in the run-up to tupping is the way to go.”
Energy intake is particularly important ahead of breeding, with poorer grass growth potentially leaving some ewes short of both energy and protein.
Mr Hart said: “Energy is the key driver of ovulation, and getting ewes to the right body condition before tupping will have a big impact on lamb numbers.”
Where grass is limited, farmers may need to rely more heavily on silage, hay and concentrates, but conserved forage should be analysed before diets are planned.
If the quality of hay or straw is unknown, Mr Hart advised producers to assume it is low and formulate diets accordingly.
Supplementary feeding may also help improve energy intake and make better use of lower-quality forage where grass availability is poor.
Bluetongue is adding another layer of concern ahead of tupping, with 722 cases of BTV-3 recorded across the UK so far in the 2026-27 season.
Of those, 637 have been recorded in England, 68 in Wales and 17 in Scotland, with none reported in Northern Ireland. No cases of BTV-8 have been recorded this season.
With disease pressure adding to fertility risks, producers are being urged to work closely with their vet and check breeding stock well ahead of turnout.
Rams should undergo a full examination around six weeks to two months before they are needed.
Mr Hart said: “Carrying out a full MOT on your tups six weeks to two months before they are needed is critical, but this year farmers need to be especially sure rams are ready to work.”
He encouraged farmers to assess the four “T”s — teeth, testicles, toes and tone — in good time.
The financial consequences of poor preparation could also be significant.
Mr Hart said: “The main factor affecting the profitability of any sheep enterprise is the number of lambs weaned and sold. The focus now must be maximising your lambing percentage and reducing barren ewes.”
He said producers may need to spend more on nutrition this year because of poor grass growth, but warned that cutting back now could result in fewer lambs next spring.
The message for farmers is to act early on ewe condition, forage quality and ram fertility, as poor preparation now could translate into fewer lambs to sell next year.
Mr Hart added: “Make the best of the forage available, take advice where needed and treat nutrition as an investment in what is to come. It may feel like a leap of faith, but if lambs are scarcer and prices strengthen next year, farmers will need lambs on the ground to benefit.”