Colostrum: The best way to improve lamb survival and performance
The most recent Teagasc Sheep newsletter emphasizes the importance of adequate colostrum intake for improving lamb survival and performance, outlining its benefits, necessary feeding rates and alternatives when insufficient.
Adequate colostrum intake is the best way to improve lamb survival and performance. Colostrum serves three main functions: dense source of energy/nutrients; source of maternally derived antibodies for lambs’ passive immunity; and, as a laxative to help clean the digestive tract.
Ensure any lambs that need help suckling get enough feed. Lambs should receive 50ml per kg within the first six hours of life, combining to 200ml per kg within the first 24 hours.
Colostrum alternatives
Where there is insufficient colostrum one of these alternative option will be necessary:
- another freshly lambed ewe
- cow colostrum (from two or more cows plus a 20% higher feed rate)
- proprietary brands – follow manufacturer’s instructions
Ensure each lamb receives some of its own mother’s colostrum or that of another freshly lambed ewe in the flock. Pool ewes’ colostrum and top it up with an alternative to facilitate transfer of passive immunity.
Colostrum feeding rates for newborn lambs
| Birth type | Birth weight (kg) | First feed | First 24 hours |
| Single | 6 | 300ml | 1,200ml |
| Twin | 5 | 250ml | 1,000ml |
| Triplet | 4 | 200ml | 800ml |
Hygiene
Keep pens and lambing areas clean and dry to reduce the newborns’ infection exposure. Use lime or other disinfectants. Straw shortages are affecting farms, so consider alternatives such as sawdust/wood shavings. All items used during birth, feeding or handling, and your own clothing, can be infection sources. Keep work gear clean, use gloves when assisting lambing, and sterilise equipment.