What are the precautions during the lamb suckling period? Sheep farmers must remember them

Colostrum is an irreplaceable feed for newborn lambs, because colostrum contains extremely high nutrients and microorganisms; it can improve the lamb's immunity, cleanse the intestinal tract, inhibit bacterial reproduction and promote the discharge of meconium, helping the lamb get through the weak period. Many lambs that have not eaten colostrum have poor resistance and are highly prone to infection and death, but ewes have a high reproductive rate, so insufficient breast milk often occurs. At this time, artificial feeding is necessary, so be sure to pay attention to the following issues.

1. Fixed time

Lambs eat a small amount, but their metabolism is fast, so they need to be fed multiple times a day, and the feeding times should be reasonably arranged. Generally, lambs within one month of age need to be fed once every hour; lambs 1-2 months old generally need to be fed 4 times a day; those 2-3 months old need to be fed 3 times a day; and by 3 months of age, lambs are already similar to adult sheep and can eat forage on their own, so generally feeding 1-2 times a day is enough. As they gradually grow, reduce the number of feedings and increase the amount each time.

2. Fixed amount

Feeding should only meet their nutritional needs; do not feed too much or too little. If fed too much, it may cause gastrointestinal discomfort in lambs, leading to indigestion or even diarrhea; but feeding too little will also lead to insufficient nutrition, affecting their normal development or even worse. So this feeding amount is extremely important. Generally, lambs within one month of age are fed about 250 grams each time, and as their body weight and age increase, gradually increase or decrease it. Generally speaking, the daily feeding amount must not be less than 16% of their body weight.

3. Fixed temperature and fixed quality

Lambs have a weak constitution and cannot withstand wind and cold. During artificial feeding, pay attention to the milk temperature. If it is too low, it will cause diarrhea and in severe cases death; if it is too high, it will scald them. Therefore, the milk temperature should be close to the ewe's body temperature, preferably 38-42 degrees, and should not be too high or too low. The milk should also remain fresh and clean, and freshly expressed milk is preferable. Milk stored at low temperature should first be heated and stirred before feeding.

4. Disinfection

In order to avoid disease, first keep feeding utensils clean and hygienic. Wash them with clean water and dry them after each use, and boil them in water for disinfection once every two days. The same applies to the lambs' growing environment; disinfect and sterilize regularly to prevent lambs from being infected with diseases.

The above is an introduction to the precautions for lamb suckling. We hope it can help you. If you want to learn more related knowledge, please follow us.