How to raise newborn lambs? Detailed explanation of feeding and management key points
Newborn lambs are very fragile, and poor care in the early stage will affect the later stage. So how should lambs be raised in the early stage? Which aspects need special attention? Below, Qinnong.com will introduce which aspects need attention, so that when raising lambs, everyone can start with the following aspects.
1. Sanitation and cleaning
Sanitation has an extremely high impact on lambs. Newborn lambs still do not have fully developed functions in all aspects, and their immune system has not formed a complete cycle, so some diseases at this time can invade extremely easily. In the early stage, the umbilical cord area of lambs must be taken very seriously. Many cases of lambs becoming ill in the early stage are caused by infection here. Cleaning the sheep shed is also very important, especially for the ewe. Lambs in the early stage are very dependent on the ewe, and if the ewe's body is very dirty, it is very easy for diseases to be transmitted to the lambs. Some manure in the sheep shed must be cleaned up in time, and some wool must also be cleaned up thoroughly. Wool is extremely easy for lambs to adsorb and can irritate their fragile areas and cause infection.
2. Guarantee of mother's milk
Ewe's milk is the most important source of nutrition for lambs in the early stage, especially the colostrum secreted in the first few days after birth, which is even more important. At this time, colostrum, whether in nutritional quality or in the supplementation of trace elements, is the most needed guarantee, so lambs should be allowed to consume it as early as possible, which can effectively ensure the health and growth of lambs. Generally after 3-4 days, what the ewe secretes is no longer colostrum, but normal milk. At this time, in addition to ensuring that the ewe has sufficient milk, its quality must also be ensured. The ewe should be fed more concentrate feed to ensure high yield and quality of the milk. Feeding times should be kept as balanced as possible, so that the digestion and absorption of the lambs can be effectively ensured.
3. Selection of feed feeding
Forage is the main force in the later growth of lambs, so the timing of forage feeding is very important. Too early and the lambs will absorb the forage poorly; too late and it will lead to insufficient nutrient supply. Generally, lambs can begin to be fed forage after two weeks. The forage fed in the early stage should be more tender, so as not to damage the lambs' digestive organs. Second, at the beginning of feeding, it is best to feed cooked feed, which is beneficial to the lambs' absorption. As for tender leaves, just feed a little appropriately, and gradually increase with the days.
4. Disease prevention
Disease prevention in the early stage is very important. If it is not done well in the early stage, the probability of disease in the later stage will be very high, so many vaccines for lambs must be injected in time. After that comes maintaining temperature, generally controlled at 25°C-30°C. If the temperature is too low, it will reduce the immunity of the lambs and is not conducive to health. In the early stage, it is best to let the lambs exercise appropriately to maintain their body's activity. If they are too comfortable, the fattening speed of the lambs will be relatively slower. If conditions permit, it is best to let them out of the sheep pen, so that the lambs can come into contact with sunlight as early as possible, which can effectively improve their health.
The early feeding of lambs is very important, but lambs are not as fragile as everyone thinks. Actions that allow lambs to adapt more to the growth environment can be done more. Blindly refined management will reduce the quality of the sheep breeds used for later breeding or farming. I hope everyone will pay more attention to the above aspects, so that your lambs can grow both well and strong.