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Ensuring the health and well-being of your young ruminants starts with proper feeding practices. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you get started:

Colostrum: The First Essential Feed

All ruminants need colostrum within the first 24 hours of life, ideally within the first 12 hours. After 24 hours, lambs can no longer absorb the antibodies in colostrum, which are crucial for protection against infections during the first 12 weeks of lif

• Sources of Colostrum: Lambs can receive colostrum from their mother ewe, another animal (cow colostrum can be used in a pinch), or powdered colostrum products like ‘New Born’ or ‘Jumpstart’, which we stock.
• Feeding Schedule: Ideally, colostrum should be fed over the first 48 hours. Transition to warm milk replacer by gradually reducing the amount of colostrum and replacing it with products like ‘Anlamb’ or an equivalent.

Milk Replacer Transition

A lamb should consume 10-15% of its body weight daily, initially spread over 5-8 feeds per day. Transition to a cold yoghurtised mixture by mixing warm milk replacer with cold yoghurtised milk in increasing amounts until the lamb is on straight yoghurtised milk by day 7.

• Mixing Tips: Always mix the yoghurtised milk well before each feed, as it may settle or form a crust on top.