Optimising Ewe & Ram Condition for Tupping

As late summer sets in, extensive sheep and beef farmers should be focusing on optimising both ewe and ram body condition ahead of tupping, while also ensuring lambs continue to finish well.

Whether farmers are in a strong position thanks to favourable pre-Christmas growth – like many on the North Island’s East Coast – or battling dry, wind-prone conditions in regions such as the Central Plateau and North Canterbury, strategic feeding decisions are key to maintaining stock performance.

With warm, dry conditions expected to persist, SealesWinslow National Sales Manager Ryan Scholes advises farmers to pay close attention to diet balance and body condition over the next two to three months, as pasture quality continues to decline.

“Many farmers have surplus summer crops or supplementary feed such as grass baleage this year, thanks to excellent early-season growth,” he says. “While that’s a positive, it’s important to remember that summer pasture becomes more fibrous and loses energy, so balancing the diet with more digestible feed is essential for maintaining stock condition and future performance. With brassica crops, lambs and young cattle can also face trace element challenges that may impact target weights if not supplemented.”

Balancing the diet for better performance

Farmers relying on fibrous feeds such as grass baleage, hay, or older pasture should consider supplementing with a more digestible, low-fibre (NDF) feed to improve rumen efficiency. Ryan says that while an ideal diet includes a good balance of protein and starch, current farm economics mean farmers should prioritise readily available, digestible energy for the best returns.

“Fibrous baleage or stressed summer pasture doesn’t digest efficiently, which can limit rumen function,” he explains. “Instead, farmers should look at incorporating a feed with high metabolic energy (ME) that ferments well in the rumen, is compact, and is easy to consume. For those with brassica crops, it’s also worth noting that while they offer good energy, they lack key trace elements like selenium and iodine – both critical for growth metabolism.”

With the hottest, driest months approaching, making every mouthful count is crucial for maintaining body condition leading into tupping. Ryan suggests molasses-based supplementation as a practical and cost-effective solution for extensive farming operations.

Managing heat stress and maximising feed intake

As temperatures and humidity rise, sheep and cattle expend more energy trying to stay cool, which often leads to reduced feed intake. Providing compact, high-ME feeds that are easy to consume ensures animals continue receiving the nutrition they need.

When comparing cost and energy content, dehydrated molasses mineral blocks – such as Crystalyx’s Extra High Energy – offer a favourable alternative to baled silage. Dehydrated molasses blocks deliver energy equivalent in cost to that in a large bale silage while also providing essential trace elements, supporting rumen function, and improving overall feed utilisation, particularly in summer when pasture can be fibrous and stressed. The following table illustrates the comparative figures.

Table 1: Cost and nutritional comparison between baled silage and dehydrated molasses block carried out by SealesWinslow.

For lambs and yearlings on summer crops, Ryan recommends low-energy but high-mineral molasses blocks, such as SealesWinslow’s Cattle and Sheep Mineral Blocks.

“These provide a cost-effective way to mitigate trace element deficiencies and ensure cows and ewes reach their full genetic potential,” he says.

By making smart feeding choices now, farmers can maintain ewe and ram condition through late summer, setting up their stock for a successful tupping season while optimising growth rates in lambs and young cattle.