Following colostrum feeding, the choice of a lamb milk replacer for artificially reared lambs is an important consideration. A digestible, carefully formulated milk replacer can help lambs to achieve their full growth potential to develop into strong, robust lambs which continue to perform. However, not all lamb milk replacers are the same; these are the key things to look for:
Protein
Protein quality is a key consideration. The source of the protein significantly affects digestibility, and, therefore, performance, particularly in the young lamb. Protein coming from dairy sources, such as whey derivatives or skimmed milk, is more digestible compared to vegetable protein sources, such as wheat protein, soya bean or pea proteins. Select a milk replacer containing a high inclusion of protein from dairy sources availability of nutrients which in turn optimises growth rates and can help to support health. Highly digestible protein sources also reduce the risk of the occurrence of fermentation of undigested nutrients which can cause problems in the digestive tract.
Fat
Fat is a key component for young lambs, it provides the majority of the total dietary energy. The source and physical structure are important considerations in order to optimise the availability of the energy to the young lamb. For this reason, opt for digestible fat sources, such as coconut and sustainably sourced palm oil, that have been homogenised and spray-dried to support solubility and stability.
Osmolality
Osmolality measures the concentration of minerals and sugars in a solution. Milk replacers with a high level of osmolality can damage gut integrity, increase the risk of abomasal bloat and potentially exacerbate diarrhoea severity. Choosing a product that has been carefully formulated with a lower osmolality in mind will help to reduce the risk of diarrhoea. It is also important to be mindful of mixing rates and milk replacer concentrations – mixing too high a concentration can directly increase the osmolality. Check feeding instructions and regularly check scoop or jug-filled weights to ensure concentrations are as expected. Regular calibration of automated machines is also important for this reason.
Minerals
Careful mineral and vitamin supplementation in young lambs is essential to support development, health and performance. Carefully selected sources help to optimise bioavailability whilst supporting gastrointestinal environment.
There is significant variation in ewe milk replacer specifications available in the market and interpreting and comparing products can be challenging. It is important to remember that the first few weeks of a lambs life offers a unique opportunity to maximise feed conversion and efficiency and provide a robust start to the growing period.
Measuring growth rates will continue to be an important metric when rearing lambs, however, widening the scope with regards to objectives to consider resilience to disease and efficiency, allows us to take rearing to the next level. Lambs utilise energy in many ways, not just for growth, so monitoring KPI’s around health incidences and treatment rates can provide additional information.
Milkivit Energized Lamb Milk has been carefully designed to help lambs achieve their full growth potential. The formulation is unique and has been specifically developed with four key benefits in mind:
• Improved energy density.
• Optimal protein digestibility.
• Controlled osmolality.
• Careful mineral and vitamin supplementation
