Why preparation matters

As conditions change, preparing housing and flock management systems becomes increasingly important. Proper planning helps reduce stress, prevent disease, and maintain performance during the housing period.

1. Carry out a housing health check

Sheep housing should be inspected, cleaned, and disinfected well in advance of use.

• Check feed barriers, gates, and pen dividers for damage
• Ensure water troughs are clean and functioning
• Fix lighting and replace bulbs where needed
• Stock up on essential consumables before housing

Sheep should only be housed when fleeces are dry, as wet fleeces can take several days to dry. Shearing at housing may also be considered depending on your system.

Tasks can be recorded in Herdwatch to ensure nothing is missed and tracked through to completion.

2. Flock health check

Housing increases disease risk due to close contact between animals, making health planning essential.

• Work with your vet to create a treatment plan
• Isolate sick or lame ewes until recovered
• Carry out routine foot bathing before housing
• Minimise infection spread within the flock

Herdwatch makes it easy to record treatments, track medicine usage, and maintain compliance using features like Remedy Records and Watchboard.

3. Plan feed reserves

Planning feed supplies is essential to ensure your flock has adequate nutrition throughout the housing period.

Calculating forage stocks in advance helps avoid shortages and allows for better ration planning. Herdwatch’s free forage calculator simplifies this process by converting different feed types into a common unit.

4. Weight check and grouping

Grouping sheep based on scanning results and condition improves feeding efficiency and flock management.

• Group ewes by litter size
• Create ‘extra care’ pens for higher-risk animals
• Monitor lamb growth rates where applicable

Herdwatch allows you to create groups and smart lists directly in the app, making it easier to manage different groups within your flock.

5. Check lying and feed space

Adequate space is essential for sheep comfort, health, and performance.

Recommended lying space

• 1.2m² for 70kg ewes (approx. 1.1m² on slats)
• 1.4m² for 90kg ewes (approx. 1.2m² on slats)

Feed space guidelines

• 400–600mm per head for concentrates
• Approx. 200mm per head for forage

Where space is limited, ensure good ventilation to maintain airflow and reduce disease risk.

What if sheep are outwintered?

Sheep can be successfully outwintered where conditions allow, including appropriate stocking rates, good ground conditions, and access to supplementary feeding where required.

Planning grazing ahead of time helps ensure adequate grass supply. Grazing paddocks down to around 4cm before closing can support better regrowth.

Using Farm Maps in Herdwatch allows you to map paddocks, plan grazing, and manage flocks more efficiently using satellite imagery.

Stay organised with Herdwatch

Herdwatch helps farmers stay on top of housing preparation, flock health, and daily management tasks.

• Record tasks and track completion
• Manage flock groups and performance
• Track treatments and maintain compliance
• Plan grazing and map your farm

Keeping everything in one place makes flock management simpler and more efficient during busy periods.