[JedM]

I have a whole bag of lamblac milk powder which has an expiry date of November 2015.  Would you use it?  Seems a waste not to use it, but was worried if it will harm the lambs?

[Mickey]

We passed an opened bag from last year to a local farmer the other day, his wife reckoned it kept very well and they could use it. 

[pharnorth]

Would I ?  Probably as long as it has been sealed throughout and the packaging is intact, and has been stored somewhere without high temperature kept under 25C ish)
This is because contamination either by mice or bacteria is the main risk and if it is well wrapped should be ok.  Might have lost a bit of vitamin content but that is no big deal for a single bag.

[SallyintNorth]

If it looks and smells fresh, I'd use it - but not for every feed and not for very young or vulnerable lambs, because the expiry date will relate to the vitamins.  So for older lambs doing well, I'd have no compunction about feeding them out-of-date milk for half of their feeds.

[JedM]

Thanks all.  Yes it has been kept sealed and stored in a cool, dry area.  The lambs are only a week old, so I'll wait until they are older before using it, to be on the safe side.

[mowhaugh]

what sally said.

[Buttermilk]

I have one drinking last years bag. He is 15 days now and has had it since one day old.  He is thriving and larger than his sibling still on the ewe, even after thinking he did not want to live until three days old.

[CPWSolf]

I would say there is nothing wrong at all. I am using up some now that is past its best. No harm done at all, in fact they cant drink it fast enough.

[shotblastuk]

Sounds like it improves with age like a good wine!!

[Mrs T]

Yes, I would, if its been stored OK, we use it up to a year after expiry to be honest (great if it keeps that long, i suppose it means its going well!)