The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: epherdwicks on April 22, 2017, 10:56:25 am

Title: how much bottle milk?
Post by: epherdwicks on April 22, 2017, 10:56:25 am

My lovely Herdwick lamb who is now three weeks old and thriving on the bottle seems as if he could drink for England at every feed.  I am wary of giving him too much as he finishes each feed looking VERY full - does around 8 to 9 fl oz per feed, four times a day, sound about right at this age?

Title: Re: how much bottle milk?
Post by: twizzel on April 22, 2017, 11:21:35 am

Sounds about right, they should have a daily total intake of 1-1.5litres... so 230-250ml 4 times a day is about right. As each week goes by drop a feed and increase the quantity until 5-6 weeks they should be on 2 full bottles twice a day, then wean at 6 weeks abruptly providing they are drinking water and eating creep. Introduce creep now  :thumbsup:

Title: Re: how much bottle milk?
Post by: SallyintNorth on April 22, 2017, 12:24:55 pm

When their tummies start to round out at each feed, stop feeding.  If you overfill the abomasum (milk stomach), the milk spills over into the rumen and can cause serious digestive issues.

The lambs do not know how to tell when they are full, you have to do that for them.

Title: Re: how much bottle milk?
Post by: Penninehillbilly on April 22, 2017, 03:27:51 pm

Sounds like mine  :), i suppose mum would walk off when she decides baby has had enough.

Title: Re: how much bottle milk?
Post by: epherdwicks on April 22, 2017, 07:15:41 pm

thanks everyone.  Twizzle - how large are your two full  bottles?