Effect of time of day at paddock change on the proportion of ewes giving birth in daytime

Abstract One mob of ewes was moved to a new paddock every morning and another every evening during the lambing period at each of two sites in each of 2 years. Overall, about half the ewes lambed during the 12 h of daytime. Fifty-four percent of ewes moved in the evening lambed in the daytime compared with 49% of ewes moved in the morning. Since any effect of time of move was small, it was concluded that moving ewes in the evening held no practical advantage over moving ewes in the morning in inducing ewes to lamb in the daylight.