This calendar outlines the key activities and tasks for sheep farming throughout the year.
| Season |
Activities |
Spring
September-November |
Lambing, pasture management, vaccination, and weaning. |
Summer
November-Feburary |
Monitor pasture growth, manage water supply, and prepare for shearing. |
Early Autumn
March-April
|
Shear sheep, check for parasites, and prepare for breeding season. |
Winter
May-August |
Feed management, monitor health, and plan for the next breeding season. |
Early Spring
September |
Prepare for lambing, monitor ewes for health issues, and manage pasture. |
What do these words mean?
Docking: the practice of shortening a sheep's tail, often to reduce the risk of flystrike and improve hygiene
- Why is this done? to prevent fly strike and improve cleanliness
Flushing: a practice of increasing the nutritional intake of ewes (female sheep) prior to mating
Tupping: refers to the mating season, also known as the "breeding season" or "ramming season"
Vaccination: It involves administering vaccines, which help the animal's immune system develop antibodies against specific diseases, making them less susceptible to future infections.
Drenching: the administration of liquid medications, typically through a drench gun, to animals to control parasites, such as worms, or to provide essential nutrients or minerals
Tagging: a crucial practice for animal identification, tracing, and disease management
Castration: the disruption of testicular function, usually by removal of the testes of male animals
Weaning: physically separating calves (or lambs, kids, etc.) from their mothers, typically at around 5-7 months of age, to transition them to a diet of solid feeds
