Kerala, India
Age of puberty. Ewes generally achieve puberty at 5 to 12 months, depending on breed, nutritional status, and birth date.
Anestrous period (reproductive inactivity). This represents the period when ewes typically do not exhibit estrus (heat). Three anestrous types are observed in ewes: seasonal (influenced by day length), lactation (influenced by lamb suckling stimulus), and postpartum.
Length between estruses, or heat periods. The typical cycle for ewes is approximately 17 days between heat periods. However, it can range from 14 to 19 days.
Duration of estrus, or heat period. The heat period typically lasts 30 to 35 hours, with a range of 20 to 42 hours. Ovulation occurs late in the period.
Gestation period. The typical gestation period for ewes is approximately 147 days, ranging from 144 to 152 days. Medium-wool breeds and meat-type breeds typically have shorter gestation periods than fine-wool breeds. High temperatures and elevated nutrition levels may reduce the gestation period by two or three days. Ewes bred to white-faced, wool-breed rams may have slightly longer gestation periods than those bred to black-faced, meat-type rams.
Breeding ewe lambs. Ewe lambs that breed and lamb as yearlings typically have greater lifetime production than ewes having their first lamb as 2 year olds. Since puberty onset depends largely on body weight, ewe lambs should receive adequate nutrition levels to achieve at least two-thirds of mature weight before breeding. Also, lambs born in winter or early spring are more likely to demonstrate heat the first year than lambs born later. Separate ewes lambing as yearlings from mature ewes, and manage and feed them so yearling ewes can grow to their maximum potential size.
Ewe lambs and yearlings are typically rather timid breeders. For optimal results, breed them separately from older ewes. In some situations, it may be preferable to use rams of smaller breeds on young ewes to minimize lambing difficulty risks.
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