Essential Pre-Tupping Hoof Health Preparation

With only one chance each year to maximise your lamb crop; preparation pre-tupping of both ewes and rams is essential. By not preparing them you could be compromising profitability from the start.

The Ram

A fertile mature ram should be capable of successfully inseminating 85% of a batch of 60 ewes in their first reproductive cycle. If a ram is lame it can cause him pain, which will result in a reduced number of ewes being impregnated, effecting the overall lambing percentage and adding more pressure to other rams serving the flock.

The Ewe

The overall health of ewes pre-tupping is very important and they should maintain a body condition score of 3. Contributing to a good body condition score is good foot health. Persistent lameness can lead to reduced weight gain, metabolic diseases, reduced birthweight of lambs, mis-mothering and poor colostrum. All of which will have a detrimental effect of lambing numbers. Ewes producing poor colostrum could affect lamb survival, even if the ewe has enough if the quality is poor it will not be adequate.   

When preparing both your ewes and rams AHDB recommend a 7 step approach:

1. Yard the sheep

2. Separate all those showing signs of lameness – as it can spread

3. Identify the lesion

4. Treat as appropriate

5. Mark the sheep and keep a record

6. Repeat the above after 14 days

7. Cull any sheep that become lame for a third time

As part of a flock health plan to help control and prevent and reduce the number of lameness outbreaks, included should be:

1. Regular foot bathing with JFC Sheep Hoof Solution, followed by yard time where the feet can dry before being turned out.

2. Any new ewes or rams bought in should be foot bathed and quarantined for at least 3 weeks before entering the main flock.

3. Routinely check every animal for early signs of foot-rot or CODD – spot treat any signs with JFC’s easy application Sheep Hoof Paste.

4. Treat all cases quickly as diseases can spread rapidly.