This calendar from Local Land Services provides sheep producers a brief checklist of what to consider each month of the production year. Its purpose is to provide information to maximize the efficiency of your breeding flock and your management.
This sheep production calendar is a guide only and timing of specific management activities may vary with breed/flock management.
Assumptions for the sheep enterprise
Breed is a first cross ewe (Border Leicester X Merino) which requires shearing. If you are running a shedding flock you may still need to consider shearing times and flystrike depending on breed and shedding percentage (dorper cross).
There is only one lambing per year and this occurs in August. If lambing more frequently, you need to ensure that you have enough high-quality feed in late pregnancy and during lactation or animal health (and consequent animal welfare) issues may arise.
The aim is to produce prime lambs of approximately 20-22 kg carcase weight at 7-9 months of age.
Notes on pasture
It is important to identify the species that are growing in your pastures. This calendar is based on “tropical” kikuyu and “temperate” annual ryegrass. Numerous characteristics of the pasture influence pasture intake and performance by livestock, with pasture quantity and quality the most important.
Gaining skills in estimating pasture quality and quantity is key to improved grazing management and understanding the pasture benchmarks used in this guide.
Link down by calendar month:
JANUARY
Sheep management
- Monitor for blowfly activity.
- Weigh weaners every 6 weeks to monitor growth.
Nutrition
- Ensure sheep have adequate clean water
- (Dry sheep: 10L/day
- Lactating ewes: 14L/day
- Weaners: 6L/day).
- High-quality pasture required for weaner growth; supplement if below target.
- Feed rams lupins for 2 months prior to joining (150g/day).
Health
- Conduct worm egg counts before handling; drench if high and retest in 7–10 days.
- Monitor all sheep for flystrike; shear struck wool and apply dressing.
Pasture management
- Evaluate autumn–winter feed; consider soil testing, sowing, and fertiliser planning.
FEBRUARY
Sheep management
- Monitor for blowfly activity.
- Weigh weaners every 6 weeks.
Nutrition
- Maintain high-quality pasture for weaners; supplement if needed.
- Ensure ewes are in joining condition (Fat score 2.5–3.5).
- Feed rams lupins (150g/day).
Health
- Worm egg counts; drench if high.
- Drench for liver fluke if present.
Pasture management
- Manage excess feed by making silage.
- Prepare pastures for winter feed.
- Reduce kikuyu sward; consider herbicides.
- Monitor pests and weeds.
Pest management
- Join a pest control program for wild dog, pig and/or fox control.
MARCH
Sheep management
- Join rams with ewes (1 ram per 35–50 ewes).
- Weigh weaners every 6 weeks.
Nutrition
- Maintain ewe condition during and after joining.
- Supplement weaners if needed.
Health
- Worm egg counts after significant rain; drench if high.
- Prepare low worm-risk paddocks for lambing.
Pasture management
- Soil test nominated paddocks.
- Manage kikuyu by grazing to 2.5 cm.
- Consider sowing temperate species for autumn/winter feed.
APRIL
Sheep management
- Remove rams mid-month (joining ends).
- Inspect and cull rams; sell culls.
- Weigh weaners every 6 weeks.
Nutrition
- Select and manage lambing paddocks with high-quality green feed.
Health
- Worm egg counts after rain; drench if high.
- Drench for liver fluke if present.
- Prepare lambing paddocks to be low worm-risk.
Pasture management
- Apply lime or gypsum if needed.
- Monitor germinating pastures for pest damage.
- Control broadleaf weeds (fireweed, thistles).
MAY
Sheep management
- Weigh weaners every 6 weeks.
- Sell remaining lambs from last year to reduce stocking rate over winter.
- Scan ewes for pregnancy to manage singles and twins separately.
Nutrition
- Manage ewe grazing to ensure ewes are no more than Fat Score 3.5 (Merino) or 4.0 (Crossbred) at lambing.
Health
- Conduct worm egg counts after significant rain; drench if high.
Pasture management
- Check lambing paddocks for pasture targets.
- Control temperate broadleaf weeds before flowering (fireweed, thistles).
- Assess readiness for first grazing based on leaf stage and root anchoring.
- Monitor for insect pests (aphids, mites).
- Graze ryegrass at 2.5–3 leaf stage; top-dress with nitrogen after every second grazing.
- Graze oats when anchored and tillering.
- Graze brassicas at correct stage for yield and health.
JUNE
Sheep management
- Crutch all ewes mid-month for lambing.
- Scan ewes for pregnancy.
- Prepare low worm-risk paddock for weaners in November.
Nutrition
- Maintain ewe fat score (3.5 Merino, 4.0 Crossbred).
- Supplement ewes if pasture is inadequate.
- Prepare weaning paddocks with high-quality green feed.
Health
- Worm egg counts before crutching; include liver fluke test.
- Drench if high and retest in 7–10 days.
Pasture management
- Monitor pasture growth for late pregnancy and lambing.
- Plan winter grazing and feeding budgets.
JULY
Sheep management
- Move ewes into lambing paddocks last week of month.
Nutrition
- Energy requirements peak in last month of pregnancy.
- Pregnant ewes need 700 kg DM/ha at 75% digestibility.
- Supplement if pasture falls below target.
Health
- Worm egg counts before lambing; include larval culture.
- Consider calcium and magnesium supplements.
Pasture management
- Monitor grazing budgets to prevent weight loss.
- Lock up paddocks for silage/hay if surplus exists.
- Plan summer fodder crops (sorghum, millet, brassicas).
AUGUST
Sheep management
- Monitor lambing daily; minimize disturbance.
- Use self-feeders for supplements if needed.
Nutrition
- Singles: 1000–1200 kg DM/ha at 65% digestibility.
- Twins: 1300–1500 kg DM/ha at 70% digestibility.
Health
- Worm egg counts; drench if high.
- Drench for liver fluke if present.
Pasture management
- Plan winter grazing budgets.
- Prepare paddocks for fodder conservation.
- Control weed seedlings early (fireweed, thistles).
SEPTEMBER
Sheep management
- Mark lambs 2 weeks after lambing ends (tail docking, castration, NLIS tags).
- Vaccinate lambs with first 6-in-1 dose and OJD if required.
Nutrition
- Match pasture to lactating ewe needs.
Health
- Worm egg counts; drench if high.
- Apply flystrike prevention around marking wounds.
Pasture management
- Graze ryegrass based on leaf stage.
- Begin fodder conservation if conditions allow.
- Identify paddocks for soil testing.
OCTOBER
Sheep management
- Inspect remaining rams for soundness.
- Purchase replacement rams from accredited flocks.
Nutrition
- Match pasture to lactating ewe needs.
Health
- Worm egg counts; drench if high.
- Vaccinate lambs with second 6-in-1 dose.
Pasture management
- Assess paddocks for silage readiness.
- Lock up perennials for seed set.
- Monitor for grass weeds and fungal diseases.
NOVEMBER
Sheep management
- Wean lambs mid-month into low worm-risk paddocks.
- Shear adult sheep; cull ewes with udder or teeth faults.
- Purchase replacements with health statements.
Nutrition
- Maintain ewes at Fat Score 3 until joining.
- Provide quality feed if below target.
Health
- Drench lambs for worms at weaning.
- Treat sheep for lice within 24 hours of shearing.
Pasture management
- Begin silage/hay production.
- Manage newly sown pastures with light grazing and topdressing.
- Maintain kikuyu quality by grazing at correct height.
DECEMBER
Sheep management
- Apply long-acting flystrike preventative chemical.
- Weigh weaners every 6 weeks.
Nutrition
- Maintain ewes at Fat Score 3 until joining.
- Rams should be Fat Score 3.5 at joining.
Health
- Worm egg counts before handling; drench if high.
- Conduct liver fluke tests.
Pasture management
- Continue silage/hay production.
- Graze kikuyu at correct height; mulch after grazing.
- Control summer grass weeds (giant Parramatta grass).