The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Maesgwyn on May 09, 2013, 06:37:02 pm
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what age do you finish weaning bottle fed lambs, I have three and they have access to hay, creep, water but are going nuts about milk still, we have had them for 6 weeks but I am not sure how old they are
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They'll keep on screaming for milk as long as you're prepared to keep offering it ;)
In the past I've weaned them at 5-6 weeks, as soon as they are readily eating at least 1/2lb creep per head per day.
I recently read that the rumen isn't fully developed until 8 weeks old, so now I am thinking I'll keep a little milk going until 8 weeks. Plus as before, they must be eating at least 1/2lb per head per day of creep.
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We generally start cutting ours down at 4 wks both in portion and concentration of milk. Have them at 1 milk per day by 6 wks and then stop at 6-8wks if they are coping fine and guzzling grass.
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Cut down at 4-5 weeks to 500ml (1 bottle) a day, then wean at 5-6 weeks. They will go mad for milk as long as you give it to them! I used to work in a children's farm park and the lambs there were bottle fed (as it was part of the farm day for children to feed the lambs) from February right up until September!
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with the price of lambs milk mine are now on a restricted intake, thanks for the help