Not all lamb milk replacements are the same. 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.
The intestine of a calf is still developing throughout the first few weeks of life, and production of digestive enzymes are increasing with age. The calf doesn’t obtain all the nutrients available in liquid feeds for a period after birth.
Avoid the risks of exceeding nutrient tolerance. The graph shows at what level calves reach their nutrient tolerance for lactose. The red line represents a typical high plane of nutrition using a typical calf milk replacer where, especially early in life, there is a risk of exceeding lactose tolerance, leading to nutritional diarrhoea.
If we dried whole milk to a powder the protein level would sit at an average of around 24% and the fat level 30%. At 23% protein and 27% oil our new Elixir+ is as close as it gets!
Irfon Jenkins, along with his brother Eurig and father Aeron farm 94 hectares, milking 400 and supplying First Milk. All replacement heifers are reared, and Friesian bulls/Belgian blue calves are sold at 8-16 days depending on breed. This year the family have experienced tremendous calf health.
When, how and how much are frequent queries when it comes to feeding milk replacer to lambs. Getting this right can be the key to raising healthy, profitable lambs.
