Follow strict weaning rules for surplus lambs

With exceptional demand for finished lambs driving prices up to all-time highs, sheep farmers are being encouraged to follow best practice guidelines when weaning any surplus spring offspring they have reared off the ewe.

“Having got these valuable extra lambs so far, don’t switch off now and run the risk of compromising their finishing potential at grass. Make sure you get weaning right,” urges Dr Jessica Cooke from Lamlac.

Dr Cooke says that any surplus lambs fed on Lamlac milk replacer should only be weaned when they are at least 35 days of age, weigh 2.5 times their birthweight and are consuming 250g of solid feed per day for a three-day period.

“Lambs are born with an immature digestive system, so in early life they cannot digest anything but milk. The lamb’s digestive system must undergo considerable development to be able to cope when it moves from a predominantly milk-based diet to a more complex grass-based feed.

“The speed of this digestive system development is not controlled by the lamb’s age or weight, but rather by the diet it is fed, and the physical and chemical processes associated with its digestion. It is therefore essential that alongside the milk feed the lamb always has access to fresh water. In addition, a quality creep feed should be offered fresh at least once a day,” she advises.

She adds that effective development of the digestive system, specifically the rumen, will ensure that when the lamb is weaned – and the milk portion of its diet is removed – it will be able to match its energy requirement through the intake of solid feed alone. This will prevent any setback in growth or performance at grass.

“Weaning of surplus lambs reared artificially is most successfully achieved when Lamlac is withdrawn abruptly, if lambs are old enough and that intake of solid feed is adequate. Lambs should have been eating solid feed for at least 10 days and be making use of the drinking water supply,” she says.

Once all surplus lambs have been weaned it’s time to thoroughly clean all feeding equipment – bottles, feeding buckets or computerised machine – before storing it safely for next season.