Drying Off Your Dairy Ewes: A Simple, Practical Guide
Drying off your dairy ewes might seem straightforward, but the timing and approach can make a big difference in their health, body condition, and milk production in the following lactation. Here's how I handle the dry-off period on my farm, along with the reasoning behind my approach.
Why the Dry Period Matters
The dry period isn't just a break from milking—it's a critical time for your ewes to rebuild their body condition and prepare for the next breeding season and pregnancy. Here's something important that many people don't realize: the health and size of the placenta(s) directly determines milk production after lambing.
That means your ewe needs to be as healthy as possible when she's bred to set herself up for maximum milk production the following season. This is why I prioritize giving my ewes adequate time to regain condition before breeding.
When to Dry Off
I aim to dry off my ewes one month before breeding season. For my spring lambing flock, that means drying off in October since my breeding season runs from November 9th through December 13th (34 days, covering two cycles).
This one-month timeline isn't arbitrary—it gives ewes enough time to regain body condition so they can breed up successfully and maintain a healthy pregnancy.
Production Thresholds
Because my ewes are on the lower production side of the spectrum, they're relatively easy to dry off. I use these production benchmarks to decide when to stop milking:
Mature ewes: Below 1 quart per day
Yearlings: Below 1 pint per day
Most of my ewes milk for 150-200 days on average before reaching these thresholds.
Individual Considerations
That said, I don't treat every ewe exactly the same. I'll dry a ewe off earlier than my standard timeline if:
She's really thin and needs extra time to regain condition - ideally you want her at a BCS of 3-3.5 at breeding.
She's a yearling (still growing herself)
Her milk production is already very low (below the thresholds mentioned above)
The goal is always to have healthy, well-conditioned ewes at breeding time.
My Dry-Off Method: Keep It Simple
For my East Friesian/Lacaune crosses (with some Finn genetics), the dry-off process is straightforward: I just stop milking them.
Since I milk once a day and my ewes are lower producers, they don't need a gradual taper. When they hit my production thresholds, I simply stop.
What About High Producers?
If I had really high production ewes or ewes that were hard to dry off, I would take a more gradual approach:
Drop to once-a-day milking (if not already there)
Then move to every-other-day milking
Continue spacing out milkings until production drops
Remove grain and alfalfa from the diet
Provide only lower quality feed (grass hay, grass pasture) until they dry up
The Last Milking
Some people recommend not milking ewes out completely on that last day to signal the body to stop producing. For my lower-producing ewes, I haven't found this necessary. However, if you want to ease your ewes into the dry period, you can start leaving a bit more milk in the udder each day—they'll respond by reducing production.
Monitoring During Dry-Off
Once I stop milking, I check udders daily for about the first week. This is the most critical time to catch any problems early.
What's Normal
After you stop milking, the udder will fill up and become firm. This typically takes about a week to resolve, though it depends on the individual ewe and her production level. High producers will take longer to reabsorb that milk and soften up.
A normal drying-off udder might be:
Full and firm to the touch
Slightly uncomfortable for the ewe (but she shouldn't be in distress)
Warning Signs
Watch for these red flags that indicate a problem:
Heat - The udder feels hot to the touch
Lumps - Hard spots or lumps in the tissue
Rock hard - Excessively firm, beyond normal fullness
Tenderness - The ewe flinches or pulls away when you touch the udder
If you see any of these signs, contact your vet. These can indicate mastitis or another udder health issue.
Resist the Urge to "Help"
I know it's tempting to milk out a ewe who looks uncomfortably full during those first few days. Don't do it! As long as everything looks and feels normal (no heat, lumps, or excessive hardness), leave her alone. Milking her out will only signal her body to keep producing milk and drag out the drying-off process.
Nutrition Management
Feed management is an important part of the dry-off strategy.
At Dry-Off
When I stop milking, I stop feeding grain. This helps reduce milk production naturally.
If I've been feeding a lot of grain for some reason, I'll taper them off slowly rather than stopping abruptly to avoid digestive upset. But typically, my ewes are on a modest grain ration during late lactation, so I can just cut it out completely.
Preparing for Breeding: Flushing
Here's where the timing gets interesting. About three weeks before turning out my ram (which is roughly ten days after I stop milking), I start "flushing" my ewes with grain to improve their body condition and boost ovulation rates.
Keep in mind that most of my ewes have already dried up by this point—one month before breeding season is my absolute last day to be milking anyone who's still in milk.
My flushing schedule:
Week 1: 1/4 lb grain per head per day
Week 2 and beyond: 1/2 lb grain per head per day, continued for six weeks total
This gradual increase in nutrition helps improve conception rates and potentially increases the number of lambs born.
Troubleshooting
I've been fortunate that I haven't dealt with mastitis or ewes that were difficult to dry off. I attribute this largely to having lower-producing genetics and maintaining good udder health throughout lactation.
If you do encounter problems:
Mastitis during dry-off: Contact your vet immediately. Dry-off is a vulnerable time for udder infections.
Ewes that won't dry up: Implement the gradual milking reduction I mentioned earlier, along with diet changes to reduce milk production.
Very high producers: Consider using dry cow/ewe therapy products (consult your vet) to protect the udder during the dry period.
My Best Advice
The single most important thing you can do for your flock—whether you're drying off ewes or managing any other aspect of sheep health—is to observe them daily.
Daily observation is the best way to know what's going on with your flock and keep them healthy. It's the quickest way to catch something wrong or off. You'll learn what's normal for your ewes, and you'll notice immediately when something isn't right.
Every flock is different, every ewe is different, and your climate and management system are unique to your farm. Pay attention to your sheep, keep good records, and adjust your approach based on what works for your situation.
Final Thoughts
Drying off dairy ewes doesn't have to be complicated. For most moderate-to-low production ewes, simply stopping milking when production drops is perfectly adequate. The key is timing it right so your ewes have adequate time to regain condition before breeding, setting them up for a healthy pregnancy and strong milk production in the next lactation.
Remember: healthy ewes at conception = healthy placentas = better milk production next year. It all connects!
Have questions about drying off your ewes? Drop them in the comments below—I'd love to hear about your experiences and approaches!
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