Flushing is the practice of improving the nutrition of ewes before and during the breeding season to increase ovulation rates and, ultimately, lambing percentages. After a hot, dry summer, pasture quality often declines, making flushing especially important to restore body condition and reproductive performance.
Why Flushing Matters Post-Summer
- Heat stress and poor forage can reduce body condition scores (BCS), affecting fertility.
- Ewes in optimal BCS (2.5–3.0) at tupping have higher conception rates and more twins.
- Flushing helps stimulate ovulation, especially in breeds with seasonal breeding patterns.
When to Start
- Begin 2–3 weeks before tupping and continue for at least 2 weeks into the breeding season.
- Monitor BCS and adjust feeding accordingly.
Flushing Strategies
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Pasture Management:
- Move ewes to fresh, high-quality pasture (ideally with clover or regrowth after silage).
- Avoid overgrazed or drought-stressed fields.
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Supplementary Feeding:
- If grass is scarce, offer energy-dense feeds like cereals (barley, oats) or compound feeds.
- Introduce gradually to avoid digestive upsets.
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Mineral Supplementation:
- Ensure access to trace elements like selenium, cobalt, and iodine, which support fertility.
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Ram Preparation:
- Rams should also be in good condition and checked for fertility, especially after heat stress
Mineral Supplementation and Boluses
Providing ewes with essential trace elements such as selenium, cobalt, and iodine is crucial for supporting fertility—especially this year following the challenges of a hot summer. The most practical and cost-effective approach is to administer a bolus at the time of flushing, ensuring consistent mineral availability during the critical breeding period.
Bolusing is a targeted method of delivering essential trace minerals directly into the rumen, ensuring consistent and long-term supplementation. This is particularly important in sheep management for several reasons:
✅ Supports Fertility
- Minerals like selenium, cobalt, and iodine play a vital role in reproductive health.
- Bolusing before flushing ensures ewes have the nutrients needed for optimal ovulation and conception rates.
✅ Compensates for Poor Forage
- After a hot summer, pasture quality often declines, leading to mineral deficiencies.
- Boluses provide a reliable source of nutrients when grazing alone isn’t sufficient.
✅ Improves Lambing Outcomes
- Well-nourished ewes are more likely to produce stronger lambs, have fewer complications, and recover faster post-lambing.
✅ Cost-Effective and Low Maintenance
- A single bolus can provide months of supplementation, reducing the need for frequent feeding or mineral blocks.
- Ensures uniform intake across the flock, unlike free-access supplements.
There are a number of options on the market and at Severn Edge Farm we stock a full range for all flocks.
24·7 SMARTRACE® ADULT SHEEP
24·7 SMARTRACE® ADULT SHEEP boluses provide a GUARANTEED daily supply of iodine, cobalt and selenium, consistently released, for 180 days through a single application. They are intended for adult sheep, gimmers and hoggs with a liveweight over 40 kg.
24·7 SMARTRACE® ADULT SHEEP is designed for situations where iodine, cobalt and selenium supplementation is essential in the run up to tupping, at scanning or over-wintering. It can also be given to rams in advance of the mating season.
24·7 SMARTRACE® PLUS ADULT SHEEP
24·7 SMARTRACE® PLUS ADULT SHEEP boluses provide a GUARANTEED daily supply of copper, iodine, cobalt and selenium, consistently released, for 180 days through a single application. They are intended for adult sheep, gimmers and hoggs with a liveweight over 40 kg.
24·7 SMARTRACE® PLUS ADULT SHEEP is designed for situations where copper, iodine, cobalt and selenium supplementation is essential in the run up to tupping, at scanning or over-wintering. It can also be given to rams in advance of the mating season. Do not use this product on breeds susceptible to copper toxicity or in sheep that may be housed for prolonged periods and fed concentrates. If in doubt, consult your veterinary surgeon or nutritionist.
Cosecure Sheep Bolus
Cosecure Sheep Bolus is a unique, soluble glass trace element bolus for sheep, which delivers rumen-available ionic copper, ionic cobalt and selenium to the animal at a controlled and constant rate for up to eight months. Cosecure Sheep Bolus contains a unique form of copper called ionic copper which is active at the same pH as the rumen. Cosecure Sheep Bolus’ unique soluble glass is designed to dissolve at a controlled rate, meaning there are no peaks or troughs in supplementation.
For the supply of copper, cobalt and selenium in sheep over 30kg. The bolus supplies these trace elements at a controlled and constant rate for up to 8 months.
EACH BOLUS CONTAINS:
13.4% w/w copper
0.15% selenium
0.5% w/w cobalt
All available ONLINE or call us today to speak, 01746 713 911, to the team about your flock.
