Skip to main content

How To Prepare Lamb Bottle And Feed The Lamb

 
 
The first feed that your lamb needs is colostrum.This is vital for a new born lamb.It is full of nutrients and antibodies that ensure the survival and health of your lamb.You can purchase powder colostrum from a farm supplies store.The colostrum acts as a laxative to get rid of fecal matter.Once your lamb has had its adequate feed of colostrum you can start to feed it the lamb milk replacer.Under normal conditions the lamb willl suckle the ewe up to 40 times each 24 hours.Hense small frequent feeds for the lamb is best.
 
 


 
  • It is important that you follow the mixing instructions on the packet of your lamb milk replacer.
  •  
     
  •  Make sure your lamb is warm enough,a cold lamb will not fed.For the first few days feed the lamb the milk warm after its fine at body temperature or cold.The cold milk will also decrease the risk of bloat.
  •  
  • After feeding the lambs sides should be straight from hips to rib,if the sides puffed out then the lamb is being overfed.Lambs can get scours from overfeeding.
  •  
  • Feed 140ml every 4 hours.Then move on to 200ml four times a day.Gradually move up to 500ml four times a day for two weeks.7OOml three times a day for 2 weeks.Finally 500ml twice a day until weaned.
  •  
  • If a lamb is very weak give the lamb smaller feeds more times a day .
  •  
  • If the lamb gets scours you will need to give the lamb electrolytes and feed every two hours.You can buy powder electrolytes at vets or make it from salt sugar and baking soda.One feed will be electrolytes and one feed the milk replacer. Give a larger portion of electrolytes than the milk.When the lamb is improving give more milk than electrolyte.
  •  
  • Open the lambs mouth and move the teat from side to side to give the lamb a feel for the teat some lambs will take to the bottle straight away and some might be difficult at first.
  • Hold the lambs head and feed from above the lambs head,let the milk drip into the teat.
  •  
  • Have the lamb standing up while feeding.
  •  
  • The teat for the bottle should not be too small or too big.
  •  
  • Sterilize the lambs teats and bottle so that the lambs do not get scours.

  • By 13 weeks the lamb should be weaned of milk

  • 100ml of colostrum should be feed every 6 hours for the first 18 hours of life.
     
  • At one month they will happily be eating the hay but continue with the lamb milk replacer.Do not use cow milk to feed the lambs
  •  
  • Bottle fed lambs are often prone to bloat this can kill the lamb.It is often refereed to as frothy bloat.At 4 weeks they seem to be most prone.Some farmers when the lambs are 4 weeks give the odd injection of penicillin as preventative to bloat.Adding vegetable oil to the milk replacer could also help at this bloat risk time
  •  


 


Comments

  1. This was a really informative and excellent article. Thank you for the information, this is what I was after plus some extra little tips :D

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Electrolyte For Sick Lambs

Electrolytes are responsible for keeping the body hydrated so that the muscles and nerves can function properly. Electrolyte solutions help restore electrolytes lost by the lamb during sickness due to dehydration. Its best to feed electrolytes 30 minutes before or after feeding as electrolytes slow down the digestion of milk. You can purchase electrolyte tablets and solutions from your vet or you can try home made electrolyte. Commercial electrolyte solutions are preferred over homemade. A well made fluid electrolyte will be able to replace the fluid and electrolytes lost during scouring. It will prevent excessive dehydration which is a leading cause of death in sick lambs. A dehydrated lamb is an almost dead lamb. Home Made Electrolyte Recipe 1 Quart Water 2 Ounces of Dextrose(corn syrup) 1/2 Teaspoon of Salt 1/4 Teaspoon Baking Soda Before you give the lamb the electrolyte ensure that that the lamb is not chilled. Mix the electrolyte with warm water. Try to g

Sheep Lambing Signs

In the hours before the ewe gives birth there are some noticeable signs that she is in labour. The ewe will be uneasy and show signs of sickness. No two ewes show the exact signs but there are many common traits. Its vital that you are aware of the signs so that if there is need for intervention you are on site. Check your ewes every four hours so that if a ewe is having difficulty she is not left to struggle too long on her own. Some ewes can be quite dramatic in the hours up to the birth and some can be quiet relaxed. I have seen a ewe that every year would clear the rest of the ewes out of the shed while she was in the process of lambing.   Signs of Lambing   The ewes udder will be bagged out a few days or a week before she is about to give birth. It becomes bigger and harder the closer to birth. The teats will stand out about a day before lambing. The belly sinks also around the day before birth. The vulva will get pinker and more swelled. Hollow area a

Bloat In Lambs

The main cause of bloat is thought to be a bacteria sarcina ventriculi. Warm milk entering the stomach creates perfect substrate for fermentation. From the fermentation of the bacteria excess gas is produced causing the expanding of the stomach. This aggressive bacteria lives on lactose. This bug is everywhere and is easily picked up by the lambs. The bloated stomach of the lamb can rupture killing the lamb. The other organs can also be crushed. Abdominal bloat in young lambs is clinically diagnosed by dissension abdomen especially the right side. Bloat can also be caused due to a lack of colostrum and over feeding.   Prevention You should really try to prevent this terrible loss by good farm management. Most farmers seem to loose their bummer lambs to bloat when they are 4 weeks old. Don't feed the lamb too quickly every 10 seconds you should stop and resume feed. The hole in the teat should not be too big. The strong sucking of t