The lambing season that nearly ended us

A good ram can improve your flock fast.

But if nutrition is off, even the best genetics won’t perform like they should.

I feel like I’m robbing you if I don’t share this with you. I've heard a lot of the struggles many of you have had this lambing season.

Lambing 2022 nearly made me quit raising sheep.

We hadn’t changed anything before lambing, but it was one of the worst seasons we’ve ever had. Most ewes lambed fine, but about 7 (30%) had serious trouble. Ewes weren’t dilating after their water broke. We lost lambs. One ewe died. Five ewes had so much damage they never bred back.

The vet looked at several possibilities. Disease. Big lambs. Ring womb.

She also asked about nutrition.

At the time, I thought nothing had changed.

Before lambing the next year, I called a sheep nutritionist.

He had me send in a hay sample. After reviewing the hay analysis along with the “one-size-fits-all” mineral I was feeding, he found the ration was off — too much salt, too little calcium, too little phosphorus for the hay we were feeding.

He balanced the hay, minerals, energy, and protein.

That changed everything.

The last four lambing seasons have been completely different.

Less stress. Less guessing. Fewer vet bills. More live lambs. More productive ewes.

What hit me most was realizing how expensive guessing had been.

This nutritionist started working with sheep because my uncle, Dr. Gary Onan, asked if he could formulate sheep rations the same way he did dairy cattle. He also raises sheep himself and knows Texels well.

I’m not paid for referrals. I just know what this changed for us and how much money we have saved.

If you’re investing in breeding stock and trying to move your flock forward, nutrition can quietly hold back the genetics you’re paying for.

If you want his number, just ask, I’ll send it to you.

Your Texel Breeder,

Olivia