Posted by Administrator on June 16 2004 08:41
Ovine Newsletter 1st Quarter 2004
Orphan lambs often can be seen at one or two weeks of age by their thin condition and dirty faces due to them robbing small amounts of milk from other ewes. It is recommended that the strongest lamb be weaned and the weakest lamb(s) left on the ewe. A higher survival rate and better performance is seen when this method is used. However, if the weak lamb left on the ewe dies, another graft should be made. Some lambs will not adapt to a nipple as well as others.
How Do We Manage Lambs on Milk Replacer?
The lambs have to get adequate colostrum to have a chance to survive. If none is available from the mother, provide the lamb with colostrum from another ewe or from a supply frozen in preparation of the lambing season. Colostrum should only be saved from Johne's negative ewes.
Place the lambs in a warm, dry, enclosed area with other lambs on milk replacer. Slatted or mesh floors are excellent for these lambs; avoid drafts. The lambs should not be able to see or hear their dams while being weaned onto milk replacer. Lambs may need to have some help to learn to drink from a pail. Don't put young lambs in with older ones to avoid competition for milk replacer.
What is in Milk Replacer?
There are a number of commercially prepared lamb milk replacers on the market. Lambs may perform okay on some calf milk replacers that are available. However, most calf milk replacers do not contain enough fat to be used successfully with lambs. Listed below are recommendations for preparing milk replacers:
The best results have been obtained with milk replacers containing a minimum of 30 percent fat and 24 percent milk protein.
Mix thoroughly before feeding. Avoid using replacers that will not stay in suspension. Mix the powder in warm water and cool immediately to about 33 degrees F. This helps to eliminate the problem of ingredient separation during storage. A blender is very good for this operation.
How do We Feed Milk Replacer?
Use one of the multiple nipple systems for self-feeding the milk replacer. Serve cold! Cold milk doesn't sour as quickly and the lambs consume only a small amount of cold milk replacer at each nursing, but nurse more often. This reduces digestive problems. Warm milk may be used the first week and cold milk thereafter In a free choice system, each lamb will consume 1/2 to 3/4 lbs. of milk replacer solution daily. (2 to 4 pints of liquid milk)
Restrict intake of milk replacer after the lambs are two weeks old to encourage consumption of dry feed. As soon as the lambs are eating dry feed, wean them to a high-quality dry ration and manage them as early-weaned feeder lambs. Lambs can be weaned from milk feeding at 25 to 30 lbs. of body weight or when they are 30 to 45 days of age. Post-weaning rations, until the lambs reach 60 lbs., should be high in protein (15 to 20%) and energy.