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11 day old lamb not getting enough milk? Help!

 
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We have twin ram lambs that were born 11 days ago. One is smaller and hunched over and not as active. The ewe has a smaller udder and a smaller build so I’m thinking that the small one isn’t getting enough nutrition. So I’m assuming we need to intervene and bottle feed?
1. If so, how often does one do that? Could we get by feeding him one or two bottles a day? Anymore and I think we may sell him.
2. If we do need to feed him, can we give him raw cows milk? We only have a few more ewes left to lamb and I’m hoping we won’t have any other bottle lambs, so I would hate to buy a big bag of milk replacer. Unless it will keep multiple years.

Thanks guys!
 
pollinator
Posts: 178
Location: Henry County Ky Zone 6
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I have supplemented lambs that were not getting enough 2x a day with lamb or multi species replacer and has worked out well. Just introduce slowly to build up the gut microbes.
Have never had access to fresh cows milk but would think it would help. It is not as nutritious as sheep milk.
You can freeze any extra.
The hunched over could mean he is constapated so make sure he is pooping.
Hope he gets back on track soon.
 
Taylor Cleveland
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Kris schulenburg wrote:I have supplemented lambs that were not getting enough 2x a day with lamb or multi species replacer and has worked out well. Just introduce slowly to build up the gut microbes.
Have never had access to fresh cows milk but would think it would help. It is not as nutritious as sheep milk.
You can freeze any extra.
The hunched over could mean he is constapated so make sure he is pooping.
Hope he gets back on track soon.



Thanks so much! He is pooping, he actually pooped on me as I gave him the bottle
He drank a little bit this first time, ill keep increasing.
 
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Location: Northport, NS. Canada
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Sheep milk is denser and higher in fat. You can add some condensed canned milk to cows milk to concentrate it more. 1 or 2 feedings will only work if it still gets some milk from the mother. Maybe enriching the mothers diet with molasses or alfalfa meal or a premixed sweet feed will help increase her milk supply and make sure she has plenty of fresh water.
 
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