I have had quite a few multiple and single sheep births with weak lambs and they require feeding from the bottle.

What is the amount of milk a lamb requires at the various stages of growth, assuming that it will not be returning to the ewe.

-- Alan (alanvanheerden@worldonline.co.za), August 25, 2001

Answers

Alan, I have a book titled "Raising Sheep the Modern Way". It helps answer a lot of questions I've had over the years. And I'm sure countryside Mag. has many good articles as well you might try the archives. Anyway this book states the importance of getting the lamb to drink colostrum ASAP no more than 1/2 c. that's half a cup. If none is available it states of a replacement called "Colostryx" can be bought. Assuming that your weak lamb will be given Mom's milk since it's only weak, this book says. To feed for the first forty eight hours, every three hours half a cup of mom's milk. It does give a recipe for colostrum incase no mom is available for whatever reason. "Emergency New Born Lamb Formula" to be feed for the first two days. 26 ounces milk (1/2 canned milk, 1/2 water or goats milk) 1T Castor oil or cod liver oil, 1T glucose of sugar, 1 beaten eggyolk. Mix well and give about 2 oz. at a time on the first day allowing 2 to 3 hours between each feeding round the clock. You can use a regular baby bottle with an enlarged hole in it or put an X in the nipple. An the second day increase feeding of this formula to 3 or 4 ounces at a time 2 or 3 hours apart round the clock. On the third day you can omit the egg and sugar and reduce the oil to to 1 teaspoon. After the third day you can slowly change to lamb's milk replacer or straight goat's milk It says do not use calf's milk replacer it's to low in fat and protein. On the third day add a child's crushed vitamin daily unles lamb's milk replacer is used. Hope this is not confusing you might see if you can find the book. This book also tells about getting another ewe to adopt the lamb It's really a good book you might be able to check it out from the library. Our's hase the whole series of raising whatever the modern way. Go see if your's does. Linda at Peacefulvalley

It also says to not over feed. Enjoy raising your lambs.

-- Linda at peacefulvalley (peacefulvalley3@yahoo.com), August 25, 2001.

I couldn't live without Laura Lawson's book on raising ewes. As far as week lambs, make sure your selenium/vit E. for your ewes was at normal because this causes week, stillborn lambs. (one of many causes). I would buy through Pipestone or Midwest State Sheep Nutra Drench for sheep or Lamb Survival. I give this to all and I mean all babies born within the first hour of life. It works. It has Vit. E which is what these little one need also they need Vit. Bs. I also give them the colustrum mentioned in the post above. I have trouble with bottle lambs because even though this colustrix say a replacement for colustrum it doesn't have any of the immunities that the mother can offer. I try to steal milk from a good milker to give a little colustrum to the bottle ones. I find raising bottle lambs to be very expensive so this is something you want to do and not a money thing. I do it because I love the little one and what is my alternative. We just had to put down a old lovable ewe and that was like a lassie movie if you get what I am saying. Now when these little ones get on a good milk replacer (I assume sleeping is not your thing) remember they need to be vacinated. As they get older they seem to have problems that the other lambs do not. One they are more sensitive to parasites, flu , white muscle disease which might be why they are week in the first place. Now for a week lamb that sucks I give Nutra Drench every six hours. Make sure the poop (tar stuff is out), check their behinds all the time. I just sold my bottle lambs that made it to proper weight. It is harder because they because your kids. Good Luck. (by the way when I added up the expense on raising those bottle lambs I was in the hole!)

-- Debbie (bwolcott@cwis.net), August 25, 2001.

For the past three years we have purchased bottle lambs from area sheep farmers and raised them to build our flock, selling the wethers to cover our expenses. We usually end up selling half of those we raise (wethers) and that covers our expenses for all. Then we breed the ewe lambs. So, we feel that we have not "made" money but we have the ewe lambs for our flock free and clear. So, I would say we did come out ahead. AS for the amount of milk replacer, we found a good deal this year at Runnings Farm supply store at $26.00 a bag. That was great compared to $32.00 at other sources and brands. We start our bottle babies out at 4-6 ounces (always offering 6 but it their bellys get tight we take the bottle away). We feed every 6 hours. As they get older, we give them more milk, ounce by ounce and start to cut back to three times per day. By the time they are a month old, we usually have to feed 8 ounces three times a day. We wean at 2 months unless they are straggly, which hardly ever happens. If they aren't interested in feeding we skip that feeding becuase most of the time they probably are ready to bloat. We also offer creep feed at two weeks and water of course. We had problems with bloat this past spring but got through it okay. Otherwise, we don't have that problem. We also don't worry about how much we are feeding as they all seem to grow very well on what we are feeding. Every situation is different though and you just have to figure out what works best for your situation. Also, one trick that worked well for me was using baby wipes to clean the lambs faces, working down the body and ending up at their rear ends. This I feel is like stimulating them like the mother would. I think it helped with digestion plus kept them clean. IF you have any more questions fell free to email me. Good luck. JoAnn

-- JoAnn in SD (jonehls@excite.com), August 25, 2001.

If you know ahead to time you are going to have bummer lambs than buy goat colostrum before hand, putting it into the freezer. No colostrum powdered replacer has any immunity response in it. Yes it cleans out the meconium/tar poop in the system and has calories in it, but is not a replacer for colostrum. We also use goat Nutra- drench, but it does no have enough E in it for newborns, who need 300IU pre day, that would be nearly 3 ounces of the product, and be warned they think you are poisoning them, if it tastes as bad as it smells I can see why! I purchase 300IU E capsules at Wallmart, snip the end and squish the contents into the mouth. We feed 1 ounce per pound of body weight minimum to our goat babies, most kids get 22 ounces, in as many small meals in the first 12 hours as it takes, if they don't want to nurse I tube the colostrum. We go immediatly to 4 feedings a day no more than 16 ounces at one time, anymore than this and you liquify the contents of the intestine causing scours. Tiny kids and lambs need less. There are very few good milk replacers out there, find something without soy, or use goats milk, vitamin D whole grocery store milk is the best substitute. At about 4 weeks old the kids start eating, not just nibbling grain, hay and browse, we also up the milk to 22 ounces only 3 times a day, after 6 weeks, our get as much milk as they want 3 times a day, and are weaned when I need the milk for other things. Fostering lambs onto dairy goats is also another option, purchased for temperment, like Lamanchas. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), August 25, 2001.

This year I was able to buy goats milk from a neighbor and raise 4 lambs on it. It certainly was cheaper than milk replacer and I think they all did much better on the goats milk. I got it fresh twice a week and froze some as well. Try to find someone in your area that might have some for sale even if you can get it just once a week and freeze it.

-- Kate henderson (kate@sheepyvalley.com), August 26, 2001.

We have been raising orphan lambs for the last few years. I started out by reading whatever I could find on the subject. I must agree with the people that suggest goat milk. The lambs do better and seem to be more energetic(they play more). At first, we bought the goat milk and then we decided to get a goat and freeze our own milk. The goat eats alot of feed that sheep do not eat. They are browsers. Sheep are grazers. Consider the advantage of keeping a milk goat. Lydie

-- Lydie and Clyde Cox (clydesdale82401@yahoo.com), October 20, 2001.