[Bionic]

I have alread hijacked the thread on lambing kit from novicesmallholder so thought I had better start one of my own.
I understand that volostrum would be needed in certain circumstances but don't know if you just give the one dose or more. With only 4 pregnant (hopefully) ewes I don't want to be buying things in huge quantities if it isn't necessary. It seems volumstrum can be bought in single dose sachets and then 10 dose, 20 dose etc.
thanks
Sally

[kaz]

If you think they need colostrum, it must be given within 6 hours of birth. We now routinely give all our lambs a dose within that time frame. Others will frown on that, but we err on the side of caution. They should only need one dose, then milk.

[Bionic]

Thanks Karen 

[Fleecewife]

Every year I buy in colostrum but    we hardly ever need to use it.  You can buy a bottle and teat ready filled with a single dose for an emergency, which gives you the bottle for next year if you use it, and the lot will keep til next year if you don't need it this year (check use by date when you buy it). 
Sachets are available from your vet, but we find they only hold half a dose, but are of high quality.
You really just need enough in stock to tide you over until the vet or ag store is open, if you have a problem at the weekend - which is of course when all animal problems occur 
 
We are lucky in that our breeds generally don't have problems with feeding their lambs, but if a lamb hadn't taken it's first feed for an hour or so after birth, I would probably give colostrum to perk it up before it starts to lose strength. The only slight drawback to that is that the lamb is then full, so maybe doesn't feed from the ewe as soon as she would like - there could be some breeds where this could lead to a problem with mothering up.  Has anyone had this sort of problem?

[Foobar]

I tend to get a few sachets in, just in case.  Each sachet is one feed.  If they are orphans then they will need several feeds within the first 24 hours.  I think after that you go half half colostrum and milk for the next day, and then just milk from day 3.  If they just need a boost because Mum doesn't have much then just one feed might do, or if its triplets+ you might want to give more - you have to judge it on how the lambs are feeding really.


Volac have a good guide on their website about feeding lambs:  http://www.volac.com/media/uploads/Lambing%20Guide%202012.pdf

[Bionic]

Thanks foobar, thats an interesting link.
 

[twizzel]

I bought some collate collostrum last week that says whilst it's most beneficial to give within the first 6 hours of life, it is still beneficial after that 6 hours has elapsed... we raise a lot of orphans and thought it might give them a good boost after being taken off the ewe early on expensive stuff but I'd be interested to see how it works, last year we had a couple that were very young and didn't have a great sucking reflex, I think if I wasn't so patient in feeding they would have been goners, but they survived, can't help but think a dose of colostrum would have given them that little bit more energy

[Anke]

  You can buy a bottle and teat ready filled with a single dose for an emergency, which gives you the bottle for next year if you use it,
 

Unless the ewe is dead and/or no fostering is possible I would stomach tube the lamb with colostrum rather than use the bottle. It is also a lot quicker than trying to get a tired and possibly weak lamb to take the teat/bottle. Actually I even tube feed if I know they will be bottled afterwards, as mostly I find it is quicker, the lamb is full for a little while and I can get on with dealing with the ewe...
 
I routinely tube-feed with colostrum all (three of) triplets a couple of times in the first 24 hours, until I have decided which one will be bottle reared/fostered.

[SallyintNorth]

Topping up all three triplets with colostrum in the first few hours is highly recommended   

[pastie4x4]

is it ok to give cows colostrum 

[VSS]

Unless the ewe is dead and/or no fostering is possible I would stomach tube the lamb with colostrum rather than use the bottle. It is also a lot quicker than trying to get a tired and possibly weak lamb to take the teat/bottle. Actually I even tube feed if I know they will be bottled afterwards, as mostly I find it is quicker, the lamb is full for a little while and I can get on with dealing with the ewe...
 
I routinely tube-feed with colostrum all (three of) triplets a couple of times in the first 24 hours, until I have decided which one will be bottle reared/fostered.

Another good reason for tubing with colostrum rather than using a bottle is it doesn't interfere with the lamb's desire to suckle, so it will carry on trying to get grub from the ewe.

[SallyintNorth]

is it ok to give cows colostrum 

Ok - yes.  Useful - not very.  Powdered reconstituted colostrum formulated for lambs does a waaaayyy much better job for lambs than colostrum from a cow.

Best = own mum's colostrum
2nd best = another ewe's colostrum from the same farm/flock
3rd best = another ewe's colostrum from a different farm/flock
4th best = Powdered reconstituted colostrum formulated for lambs
5th best (so I hear) = goat's colostrum from the same farm
6th best (ditto) = goat's colostrum from a different farm
8th best = cow's colostrum from the same farm
9th best = cow's colostrum from a different farm

If I don't have ewe's colostrum then I give the powdered reconstituted colostrum formulated for lambs.  Plus, if I think it could use more local antibodies, cow's colostrum from our farm.  But I would never give a lamb just the cow's colostrum.

[supplies for smallholders]

There are also products on the market that as well as colostrum give an energy boost - such as lamb care intensive. Where a small dose is administered to the back of the tongue.

[SteveHants]

I find that Tithebarns thermovite plus is useful stuff - I give it to compromised lambs, including triplets. Other than that I don't routinely give colostrum - far better to give the ewes something so they make enough, perhaps a high energy lick if the ewes are old or first-timers.