It’s easy to glance at lambing percentages and think: “Well, there’s nothing I can do about these now.”
But the real value of scanning lies not in the numbers themselves, but in what they enable us to do between scanning and lambing, writes Nerys Wright.
Scanning figures provide a snapshot of how the flock performed at tupping and, crucially, shape late-pregnancy nutrition. Used well, they help improve ewe condition, reduce feed costs, and ultimately boost lamb survival.
This year’s results are hugely variable across the country. And very high scanning percentages aren’t always a blessing. The thought of managing large numbers of triplets and the occasional quad is enough to make anyone wince.
Outcomes
Scanning outcomes are influenced by many factors: ewe condition last summer, body condition at tupping, post-tupping weather, breed, ram performance, and any disease challenges affecting fertility.
Because of this, there is no universal “target” scanning percentage. When assessing what “good” looks like for a specific flock, I consider ewe condition, historic performance, flock age structure (ewe lambs and shearlings) and breed.
When I receive results, the first figure I look at is the number of empty ewes. In mature ewes, less than 3% empty is the ideal benchmark, alongside a target of more than 80% of ewe lambs inlamb.
Although disappointing, barren ewes offer an opportunity: removing them early reduces pressure on forage resources – and selling them before lambing is often economically sensible.
Questions
It also prompts important questions about the cause – age, condition, disease, or ram issues –helping avoid repeat losses next season. Next, I examine the balance of singles, twins, and triplets – and hopefully very few quads.
While two lambs per ewe is the sweet spot, a mix of singles and triplets can work if there are enough singles to foster triplet lambs onto, reducing orphans and ewes rearing three.
Singles need enough energy to avoid oversized lambs; twins require a rising nutritional plane for foetal growth and colostrum; tripletbearing ewes benefit from consistent high-quality forage and close monitoring.
Whatever the split, the priority now is grouping ewes correctly and feeding them according to litter size. In short, scanning isn’t the end of the story – it’s the starting point for making management decisions for a successful lambing season.
The Sheep Geeks podcast is available on all major podcast platforms. Nerys Wright is an independent sheep consultant. For more details, call 07891 187643 or visit sheepconsultancy.co.uk.