Seasons of management

Dr. Angie Varnum UMN Extension

During a webinar hosted by the University of Minnesota Extension and North Dakota State University Extension, Dr. Angie Varnum, UMN Extension livestock veterinarian, spoke about managing sheep and goats throughout the year.

In her webinar, “Creating Your Sheep and Goat Management Calendar” which occurred Dec. 22, 2025, Varnum broke her management recommendations down by season. Some of the topics Varnum focused on include vaccine protocols, breeding decisions, gestational feeding, body and eye condition scores, sheering, deworming and more.

During the winter, Varnum recommends prioritizing feed offered and administering Clostridium Perfringens Types C and D-Tetanus Toxoid, commonly known as a CD/T vaccine.

Vaccinations with CD/T should be done annually, roughly 3-4 weeks prior to lambing or kidding. Doing so will give the vaccine time to be passed to the kid or lamb.

“By vaccinating the pregnant doe or ewe you are killing two birds with one stone,” Varnum said. “You are not only immunizing the doe or the ewe herself, but you are immunizing the colostrum that she will be producing for her lamb or her kid.”

Roughly six weeks before kidding or lambing is an important point for feeding quality hay and ample grain. When increasing grain, gradually increase by 1/2 to 1 pound of grain per 100 pounds of body weight, Varnum said.

Aside from increasing feed, each ewe or doe should have one foot of space per animal at the bunk.

Varnum recommends does and ewes get quality feed in late gestation to prevent pregnancy toxemia. This is when energy is being drained faster than the ewe or doe can consume it.

“Feeding the does and ewes (well) out in your barn (is important) because they are growing little energy drains (i.e.) … kids and lambs,” Varnum said.

For does and ewes, the average gestation is 150 days. However, Varnum said farmers should be ready for kidding and lambing at 140 days. After kidding and lambing, farmers should strip the ewe or doe’s teats, dip the kid’s navel with iodine and clip the umbilical cord if necessary. Varnum said this is also a good time to identify kids.

Shearing is another task that can be done during the winter. Varnum said the ideal window to shear is between two weeks and two months pre-lambing. Shearing results in drier, cleaner, warmer and bigger lambs, she said.

“We think shearing increases birth weights by about 15%-25%, which increases lamb survivability,” Varnum said.

Most shorn ewes can handle weather down to about 32 degrees as long as they have shelter, Varnum said. If ewes do not have reliable shelter, farmers can leave the wool longer than normal.

Aside from that, Varnum said shearing ewes during the winter can improve fleece quality, give them better access to feeders, create a warmer barn for winter lambing and let lambs access the teat more easily. Ewes will also seek protection in bad weather, so they are easier to shear when pregnant. After birthing, shorn ewes are more active, easier to observe, and are better mothers.

As farmers are transitioning from winter to spring, Varnum recommends managing growth and keeping an eye on progeny, parasites and pastures.

During the summer, farmers can make breeding decisions based on the animals’ eyes, feet and undercarriage, checking both males and females. Varnum said ram and buck scrotum circumference should be at least 35 centimeters.

Varnum recommends following the 4-inch rule in pastures. Waiting until there is ample height in pastures can limit the number of larvae ewes and does pick up while grazing.

While keeping an eye on parasites, Varnum said spring or fall is ideal to deworm for liver flukes. Because dewormers attack just adult flukes, a treatment in the fall of 2025 will take care of flukes obtained in the 2024 grazing season. Deworming for flukes in the fall prevents some challenges, as producers should refrain from administering medications to animals that are less than a month pregnant, Varnum said.

As farmers are turning out rams or bucks with their ewes and does, they should pay attention to the breeding activity and take notes throughout the season, Varnum said.

Recording the dates rams and bucks were turned out and separated off helps farmers predict lambing or kidding timelines. Varnum said farmers should remove the ram or buck five months before they would like to be done lambing or kidding.

As summer transitions to fall, Varnum said it is time to check for pregnancy and test forages. Roughly 45-90 days after removing the ram or buck, farmers should check for pregnancy, Varnum said. This allows farmers to cull open ewes in the fall, identify females that need more nutrition going into the winter, and determine females with multiple kids or lambs, so feed can be adjusted accordingly.

Outside the lambing and kidding process, as farmers handle animals throughout the year, they should be checking body condition scores and FAMACHA scores, look for lumps and bumps, and trim feet if necessary.

“Sometimes we humor ourselves thinking, ‘I’m going to look at the eyes and then I will know who to deworm and then I will be managing my flock or my herd well,’” Varnum said. “While that’s a great strategy, the FAMACHA system, in its gold star way, is actually (going) to decide who we constantly need to deworm, who is constantly running white or anemic. Really the purpose is to get them out of your flock or herd.”

Checking feet throughout the year contributes to strong-footed stock. Along with does and ewes, Varnum said it is important to check bucks or rams as well.

“It seems the more valuable and more of a pet the animal is, the more often they probably need their feet trimmed; and the more cross-bred she is, maybe she needs her feet trimmed less,” Varnum said. “There is a genetic component to how often your does or your ewes will need to have their feet trimmed.”

Overall, Varnum said creating a calendar of duties throughout the year gives farmers a timeline for effectively managing their herd.