[ScotsGirl]

Just stripped out some colostrum from ewe who lost lamb. Not much but will freeze in case needed. As it is very thick should we add anything ie water or ewe/goat milk to thin it once defrosted?

[fsmnutter]

Don't thin it.
Warm it up, ideally using a double boiler (saucepan of water) to hand warm.
Don't overheat it, as this destroys the protein antibodies.
When hand warm, it should pass through a bottle or stomach tube as required, sometimes very thick colostrum needs the plunger on a syringe for a stomach tube, or a wider hole in a teat.
The best colostrum is good thick custard!

[ScotsGirl]

Exactly what it is like! How much do they need as is looks like about 50ml max.  Also, no sign of afterbirth coming away yet. How long do I leave it before calling vet? Hopefully will be out when we check her later.

[fsmnutter]

Often hard to spot afterbirth in sheep if they eat it first! Keep an eye that she's bright and eating, you'll likely notice her off colour if Its not passed in a day or so, or a smell from her. Any worries ask your vet.
The amount of colostrum depends on size of lamb and quality of colostrum.  Sounds like you have good stuff, so 50ml of that per lamb as a first feed should give them a good kick start if they cant get from their own mums.

[farmvet]

Try freezing any more you get in ice cube trays then transfer to box/bag. It makes it really easy to defrost just the amount you need!

[MarvinH]

As per fsmnutter though I will add dont warm up in a microwave either.

[bazzais]

Any reason you dont buy a pouch of it when needed?

[bazzais]

Just thinking of the animals needs rather than your perspective?

[ScotsGirl]

I do keep packets of colostrum but as this ewe lost the lamb it seemed a waste not to take some from her. It's much better than artificial. Chances are I won't need it now but I have a poor condition Suffolk who always has weak lambs so usually give them a bit by bottle to get them going.

[Rosemary]

Amounts of colostrum here.

http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/livestock/sheep/post-natal-lamb-care/

[fsmnutter]

For years i and many other vets thought packets or tubs of colostrum contained all antibodies for lambs and calves. The drug companies have recently released a special form of purely antibodies - locatim - without the nutrition of the colostrum, as it is not possible to preserve antibodies or vitamin e (essential for the immune system and often lacking in newborns). The colostrum powders are purely giving a boost of energy, to try to encourage lamb or calf to get sucking what they need from mum. As such, colostrum from a ewe or cow is best for lamb or calf respectively.

[Anke]

For years i and many other vets thought packets or tubs of colostrum contained all antibodies for lambs and calves. The drug companies have recently released a special form of purely antibodies - locatim - without the nutrition of the colostrum, as it is not possible to preserve antibodies or vitamin e (essential for the immune system and often lacking in newborns). The colostrum powders are purely giving a boost of energy, to try to encourage lamb or calf to get sucking what they need from mum. As such, colostrum from a ewe or cow is best for lamb or calf respectively.

or goat... (good for kids, lambs and calves).

[Marches Farmer]

I freeze colostrum in little yogurt pots then stand them in warm water to defrost, putting the container on a shelf above a radiator to keep it warm.  We routinely feed newborn lambs colostrum if they're born in freezing weather or to a first-timer who needs to get her act together.  We also put them in a jacket if necessary.  It takes a few minutes and we know that if we can get them through the first three days they'll thrive. Not a member of the "I lamb 'em outside at 2000 ft in January" brigade!

[mowhaugh]

Good advice above; although we always keep powdered in to make up, totally agree that the real thing is better, and we freeze some where we can.  Only other thing to add is label it carefully to avoid embarrassing incidents where you think it is something else and defrost it to serve to visitors.  Speaking from experience here.

[Blacksheep]

For years i and many other vets thought packets or tubs of colostrum contained all antibodies for lambs and calves. The drug companies have recently released a special form of purely antibodies - locatim - without the nutrition of the colostrum, as it is not possible to preserve antibodies or vitamin e (essential for the immune system and often lacking in newborns). The colostrum powders are purely giving a boost of energy, to try to encourage lamb or calf to get sucking what they need from mum. As such, colostrum from a ewe or cow is best for lamb or calf respectively.

Thats interesting and very useful to know fsmnutter, it always puzzled me that a dry mix colostrum could contain the necessary antibodies, although I think a discussion came up on here last year and I was assured that it did. Is locatim only available from vets, it sounds as though a small supply should be kept for lambing time? I do always try to keep some frozen colostrum once lambing is underway, (does freezing affect the antibodies too?) so that they can have this as the first feed followed by powdered colostrum feeds.