Grober Nutrition

Posts Tagged ‘milk replacers’

Grober Nutrition is pleased to inform the market that all Grober Milk Replacers now contain organic selenium.

After careful review of the scientific literature, Grober Nutrition has replaced its inorganic selenium source with the Alltech® product Sel-Plex®.

Sel Plex logoSel-Plex® is an organic form of selenium that contains selenomethionine, selenocysteine and several other selenoproteins.

Compared to its inorganic form, organic selenium is readily available to the animal for the synthesis of various enzymes and proteins within the body. Organic selenium is absorbed as a protein by the small intestine through active transport.

Selenium is an important micro nutrient in a number of physiological functions including immune function and reproduction.

Understanding the basic concepts of growth helps improve calf and heifer management. Early postnatal growth is the most efficient time to develop skeletal growth, muscle growth, deposit protein and attain the highest feed efficiency. Mammary development can be enhanced by liquid (milk) feed intake prior to weaning (Brown et al, 2002).

Calf raisers are advised to assess and adapt their feeding practices to ensure adequate growth while maximizing economic benefits.

Winter-feeding in cold climatic conditions requires additional attention to ensure that the young calf is provided with sufficient nutrients for maintenance and for growth expectations.

The young calf has limited reserves of energy when exposed to temperatures below the lower critical temperature for extended periods of time. These reserves are quickly depleted in approximately 18 hours for the newborn calf (Okamoto et al, 1986).

Research, under controlled conditions with adequate bedding and dry conditions, indicate that calves housed at -4oC require about 30% more calories for maintenance. This number will increase as temperature goes down, humidity rises and calves are subject to wet bedding.

The effect of cold stress on potential gain (g/d) for a 45kg calf when they are fed 12.5% DM or 125g of powder in a litre of water.

The effect of cold stress on potential gain (g/d) for a 45kg calf when they are fed 15% DM or 150g of powder in a litre of water.

When a calf falls under negative energy balance, immune status can be easily compromised and the calf becomes susceptible to bacterial and viral infections. To maintain the same amount of gain in colder environments increase the amount of powder

fed to calves on average by 7.7g per °C below their critical temperature.

Fat and its source are important in milk replacers for young calves to ensure a high absorption and to best meet their energy needs especially in cold stress conditions.

Young animals require highly digestible, human grade fats and oils, with a correct fatty acid profile and saturation structure to provide a profile similar to milk fat. This will help to maximize growth potential and avoid ‘fatty faeces’. According to research done by Drackley (2000), protein requirement is a function of the energy allowable gain.

Correct mixing of the milk replacer and temperature of water used will provide a more uniform blend and low fat particle size (<1.5 microns). These factors encourage optimum absorption capacity by the young calf.

Effect of concentrate feeding:

Calves utilize energy less efficiently from starter feeds than milk replacer because carbohydrate and protein in the starter must be fermented in the developing rumen prior to digestion by the calf.

Feeding more of an appropriately balanced milk replacer diet to meet requirements for both energy and protein allowable gain appears to be the most systematic solution to cold stress challenge.

Ways to help the young calf under conditions of cold stress:

• Ensure that the calf has access to dry, well-bedded shelter that provides protection from wind and is free from drafts.
• Provide extra energy through its feed by increasing the amount of milk replacer being fed.
• Observe the weather forecast so that changes can be introduced gradually so that stomach upset (bloating) can be avoided.

These values are approximate based on the information in NRC, 2001.

Feeding the extra milk replacer powder:

• The extra amount can and should be split into two or more meals
• It can be added on top of a milk meal

Kathleen Shore, MSC
Nutritionist
Grober Nutrition

In the last few years, larger calf raising units and more attention being paid to rearing costs and profits, has made it interesting to look into the possibility of on farm pasteurization for waste milk.

Important criteria to consider in choosing a milk feeding program:

• Number of calves being fed
• Nutritional requirements
• Performance targets
• Consistency of availability
• Storage & preservation requirements
• Infectious disease control Economics

The number of calves fed:
It is important to have a stable supply of milk so that young calves’ diet is consistent. Often, the quantity of waste milk available is sufficient for units operations.

Nutritional requirements of the young calf and performance targets

Whole milk and milk replacers can be compared on an energy and protein basis to provide some indication of growth performance. Whole milk can have a variable nutrient profile and is low in vitamins and some minerals. Pasteurized milk is subjected to high temperatures, therefore care and attention must be taken to avoid denaturing of proteins and vitamin loss etc.

Milk sources

Transition milk: availability, variability, storage and preservation can be a problem, particularly for large numbers of calves. Warm or hot weather can result in putrefactive fermentation.

Non saleable or discard milk: Milk from cows after antibiotic treatment for mastitis or other infectious diseases which cannot be sold. There are concerns of development of antibiotic resistance for intestinal bacteria in calves and antibiotic residues may also result in unsaleable calves after the withdrawal period.

Milk replacer: Quality products are consistent and formulated to high standards to ensure that the young calf is provided with the best possible nutrition and start in life.

Infectious disease control

It is easier and more cost effective to try and prevent disease situations than to cure them once they have become established. Decreasing exposure to disease is a primary method of decreasing disease.
Calves are the most vulnerable animals on the farm to infection and disease. Some of these disease conditions can be transmitted to calves through feeding practices.

There is a large ‘risk’ factor associated with feeding waste milk for transmission of infectious diseases to calves, (Godden 2004). Pathogens that may be transmitted in colostrum and milk include: Mycobacterium avium subsp. Paratuberculosis (Mptb) (the agent causing Johne’s disease); Salmonella spp.; Mycoplasma spp.; Listeria monocytogenes; Campylobacter spp.; Mycobacterium bovis; E.coli. (most common identified pathogen). The prevalence of Mptb in Ontario dairy cattle has been estimated to be 6.1% (McNab et al., 1991). At the herd level, 16.7% of herds had at least two Mptb-positive cows (VanLeeuwen et al., 2001).

On-farm commercial pasteurizers are offering a method of reducing but not eliminating this risk of disease transmission.

Economics

Installation and daily operation costs need to be considered when evaluating on farm waste milk pasteurization. For example electricity, drainage, chemicals, labour, maintenance and repairs, depreciation, interest payments etc. Some industry data suggests operation costs from $0.067 to $0.46 per calf per day to operate a pasteurizer. (University Wisconsin, 2002)

Producers would be advised to assess the equipment, space, time and handling requirements alongside economic and nutritional efficiency compared with alternatives like milk replacer. This must be combined with the risk factors of transmission of infectious diseases to calves.

Facts to consider

• It is recommended that milk is <1,000,000 CFU/ml to achieve adequate pasteurization efficacy. This requires chilling to prevent growth and fermentation of pre-pasteurized milk. (Unchilled waste milk may reach 1,000,000,000 CFU/ml in summer, (Reynolds 2002); on farm waste milk tested 14,960,000CFU/ml (S.McGuirk 2003).
• Pasteurization is a process of heating milk to a specific temperature for a specified amount of time to reduce the bacteria to negligible levels. For example Batch process: 66°C for 30mins or continuous flow (HTST): 72oC for 15 secs.
• Heating destroys or reduces the presence of viable bacteria. Some bacteria will survive the process. These are either heat-tolerant bacteria or a result of a very high concentration of bacteria in raw milk.
• The goal for post pasteurized milk is <20,000 CFU/ml. (Grade A milk for human consumption) to <10,000 CFU/ml total bacteria.
• Bacterial numbers double every 20 minutes. In ideal conditions, after one hour this could be > 500,000 CFU/ml. This is a very high load for the young calf gut to handle.
• The efficacy of pasteurization in destroying Mptb (the agent causing Johne’s disease), remains controversial between the different pasteurization systems (Batch or HTST). For E.g. UofG, 2003, result indicates that Mptb may survive HTST pasteurization. J. Dairy Science 2001; 84(2):524-527 “Results suggest that batch pasteurization of waste milk contaminated with M. paratuberculosis was effective at generating a clean product to feed to young calves.” USDA tests conducted 1997 showed that “treatment of raw milk at 72° C (162° F) for 15 seconds effectively killed all M. paratuberculosis.” (J.R. Stabel, et al). Turbulent flow is suggested to be essential for complete killing of Mptb contamination.

 Problems with pasteurization

Extreme care and attention is required when handling milk. Maintenance and sanitation of the pasteurizer are ongoing and essential for maintaining high quality end product. Agitation is suggested to ensure even heating and higher kill %. This can be very expensive to install and maintain.

Pasteurizing colostrum in standard pasteurizers can be difficult due to thickening (denatured proteins coagulate) and poor flow (clumps plug equipment). Immunogloblin (IgG) levels in pasteurized colostrum can be significantly reduced (e.g. 24-58% reduction!). A high colostrum Ig concentration is one of the critical factors to ensure that the calf receives adequate ‘passive transfer’. This helps protect the young calf from infectious diseases until its on immune system becomes fully functional. Proper management of colostrum (sanitation, cooling, storage, thawing etc) is better to ensure low bacterial load and high quality clean colostrum.

Grober provides high quality milk replacers for successful and healthy calf rearing.

Milk Replacer quality comes from several areas; the raw materials used, the method of manufacture and the soundness of the feeding nutrition program. All Grober milk replacers are manufactured with the same important high quality guidelines. Grober quality milk replacers ensure that the products are free of pathogens and contain a low bacterial load. Typical levels: <25,000CFU in milk replacer, equivalent to <5000 CFU/ml in milk solution using low bacterial load water.

Why Higher Protein?

Capitalize on the rapid early growth potential of young calves. Meet the needs of the rapidly growing bone and muscle for protein. This encourages greater lean tissue deposition without excess fattening.

Why Specific Protein : Fat Ratio?

Provide the correct protein to fat ratio at these higher feeding rates, to better promote muscle and skeletal growth so that increases in stature are attained. The high digestibility of lactose and the requirement for energy by the calf must be balanced for fat and protein.

Why Higher Feeding Rate?

Feeding rate determines energy intake, which sets limits on the growth potential.
Grober VG is fed at a higher concentration (125g/l) than conventional milk replacers to meet growth demands of a healthy feeding program.

Milk Replacer Comparison

*ref: NRC 2001 for 50kg calf.

Calf Growth: What do you want?

• Transition to functioning ruminant
• Rapid growth of frame (skeleton and muscle)
• Optimal fat deposition
• High health status.

Rate of gain should not be the sole means of assessing the efficiency of a nutrition program for milk replacer fed grain veal calves.

Potential Advantages

• Improved health and immune system when calves are gaining at higher levels. (IGF-1 important regulator of cells of the immune system, IGF’s correlated to growth rates- Drackley)
• Improved feed efficiency and returns on feed investment. Feed efficiency is an important measure of how an animal utilizes the nutrients it eats and converts them into products, e.g. muscle, fat, structural growth. Ration, management and environmental factors may affect feed efficiency.

Potential Disadvantages

• Increased investment of money during milk feeding period.
• Attention to management required for success – to avoid digestive upsets, maintain high levels of sanitation, providing adequate, clean water at all times. Starter intake of 900grams per day for 3 consecutive days must be achieved before weaning can occur.

Calf Rearing Objectives

Optimum calf growth is a function of the time necessary to achieve market weight.

In raising Holstein grain veal calves, the largest cost input are calves and feed. By feeding for the highest gains possible in the liquid feeding period, you will get the greatest value for the cost of milk replacer and starter.
The calf’s genetic potential to grow is imprinted at birth. The ability to utilize the nutrients in milk replacer and more so the ability to consume ever increasing amounts of liquid feed is in direct relation to the volume of feed the calf feeder offers the calf.

Underfeeding a calf will not only impact its growth potential but also its health and ability to overcome stress challenges.

A properly designed milk replacer and feeding program should allow you to have gains approaching 500 g/d, given proper health, sanitation and management.

Andre Roy MSc.
Sally Charlton BSc. (Hons)
April 2003

Why High Protein?

Capitalize on the rapid early growth potential of young calves. Meet the needs of the rapidly growing bone and muscle for protein. This encourages greater lean tissue deposition and thus stature without excess fattening.

Why Specific Protein:Fat Ratio?

Provide the correct protein to fat ratio at these higher feeding rates, to better promote muscle and skeletal growth so that increases in stature are attained. The high digestibility of lactose and the requirement for energy by the calf must be balanced for fat and protein.

Why Higher Feeding Rate?

Feeding rate determines energy intake, which sets limits on the growth potential.
Grober Excel is fed at a higher concentration (150g/l) and higher rate (14% BW) than conventional milk replacers to meet growth demands of the enhanced feeding program.

Milk Replacer Comparison

Calf Growth: What do you want?

Rapid growth of frame (skeleton and muscle): Optimal fat deposition: Transition to functioning ruminant.

Differences in ADG to 90kg may not be large between the conventional and enhanced systems but the type of growth, i.e. enhanced lean tissue deposition and thus stature and the degree of body fatness will be lower with the enhanced feeding system. Rate of gain should not be the sole means of assessing the efficacy of a nutrition program for milk replacer fed dairy calves.

Potential Advantages

• Decreased time to breeding size and first calving – in most production systems, decreasing the age to first calving is the most economical practice to decrease replacement heifer costs. For every month increase in average first calving age an extra 2-3 heifers are needed per 100 cows.
• Increased efficiency of body size gain – cost of rearing a heifer increases as age at first calving increases. A heifer has a lower daily gain and makes less efficient use of feed because a larger proportion of her feed is needed for maintenance.
• Improved health and immune system when calves are gaining at higher levels. (IGF-1 important regulator of cells of the immune system, IGF’s correlated to growth rates- Drackley)
• Enhanced milk production ability – inadequate size at first parturition may limit milk production and conception rate during first lactation. (Hoffman et al, 1996) Increase in bodyweight at first calving from 400kg to 570-590kg gave an increase of 825litres over 305-day lactation (2.7 litres/day). (Keown, 1986)

Potential Disadvantages

• Increased investment of money during the milk feeding period.
• Increased fecal looseness of calves – fecal appearance tends to be less solid due to lower fibre intake from calf starter.
• Delayed rumen development and weaning – calves that are healthy, have good appetites and are growing, consume enough starter dry feed, to allow rumen development to continue after weaning, in support of that growth. High quality and high protein starter feed is paramount in maintaining the early growth advantage provided by this system.
  Intensity of management required for success – to avoid digestive upsets, maintain high levels of sanitation, providing adequate, clean water at all times. Starter intake of 900grams per day for 3 consecutive days must be achieved before weaning can occur.

Heifer Rearing Objectives?

Optimum heifer growth is a function of the time necessary to achieve first parturition with the correct bodyweight, height, age and development such that the animal may express its full lactation potential. This should be achieved in the most profitable way for given targets. In raising heifers, the largest cost inputs are feed and days of growth needed to achieve productive status. Maximizing the potential production and minimizing days to first calving can help in the overall herd economics.

Too high a growth rate in the period from 3-15 months can have a detrimental effect on mammary gland development and thus future milk production potential. Feeding for higher gains in the early calf phase could offset excessive gains (>900g/d) in the heifer rearing stage, reducing the risk for impaired mammary development.

Research has shown that first calving at 22.5-23.5 months is most economical, provided that the animals are of adequate size!

Andre Roy MSc.
Sally Charlton BSc. (Hons)
 April 2003

Numerous studies, back as far as 1968, have examined the effects of feeding increased rates of milk or milk replacer to young calves. Recent developments in this area of heifer rearing have led to enhanced feeding programs.

Conventional calf feeding offers milk replacer, of 18-22% protein and 15-22% fat, at approximately 500g/d. This can support approx. 400g/d live-weight gain (LWG). For dairy replacement heifers of high genetic potential, this is not sufficient to meet optimum growth potential. Recent studies have explored the responses to feeding a higher level of milk replacer (energy intake) with a change in milk replacer composition (protein concentration and energy source). While energy intake is the main driver of bodyweight gain, protein intake can influence both BWG and its composition.

The strategy of lower intakes has typically been a management decision, not necessarily geared to growth potential. The new ‘enhanced’ growth program supports higher rates of feeding that are closer to ad lib feeding systems and thus could be more ‘biologically normal growth’. This growth is aimed at skeleton and muscle, resulting in tall heifers compared to fat heifers.

Increasing the feeding rate of a milk replacer with adequate protein has pronounced effects on growth rate and feed efficiency.

Barlett et al, Univ. of Illinois J.Dairy Sci. Vol.85, suppl. 1

Using a 4,565 Mcal/kg milk replacer of 25% CP/ 17%fat with no calf starter for 5 week period

Tikofsky et al., 2001- Body composition can be altered by the source of energy. High lactose/low fat concentrations in milk replacer favours lower fat deposition.

Hill et al (2001) Substitution rate of milk replacer for dry starter feed is lower for high protein/low fat/high lactose milk replacers compared with conventional milk replacers.

Cornell researchers concluded that, with higher protein levels, a minimum 15% fat could be adequate to maintain lean growth. However, allowances must be made for cold environment conditions. Too low a fat level reduces the stimulatory effect of fat on pancreatic enzyme secretion, so that protein digestion may be impaired.

NRC 2001 – major change is to provide the foundation to think of calves as we have of older animals, in that nutrient requirements are not static but depend on desired rate of gain, body size and environment. The new NRC considers the approach that calf nutrition is dynamic, just as for older cattle. In other words, the product-orientated ‘one size fits all’ mentality of calf raising, (i.e. a single milk replacer formulation or feeding regime is assumed adequate for all calves) gives way to calculating requirements for growth and health and then designing diets to meet those requirements.

Drackley (2001) 26% CP milk replacer maximized growth rate with minimal fat deposition. Research showed that whilst energy intake is the main driver of BWG, protein intake could influence both BWG and the composition of BWG. Drackley, (2000) identified three possible long-term effects of calf growth and development: milk production potential, metabolic imprinting and health and immune status.

Whole milk (Holstein) contains 29-30% fat and 25-26% protein on a dry solids basis.

Diaz et al. (2001) -Using a 30% CP milk replacer showed, that as feeding level increased from 14 to 26 g milk replacer DM/kg bodyweight/day, bodyweight gain and fat content of gain increased but with no reduction in protein content of BW.

With the enhanced feeding program, the milk replacer is designed to meet the correct nutrient balance for high growth rates and intakes in heifers, resulting in taller and well-proportioned heifers that can enter the milk herd earlier and have a higher milk production potential.
Foldager et al, 1997, 48th EAAP Annual Meeting.

Calf Milk Intake and Lactation Yield (Post weaning growth: 0.55 to 0.65kg/d to calving)

The concept is to feed heifers to attain a pre-selected or target weight at a given age to achieve optimum first lactation performance while controlling the costs of rearing replacements. Gaining benefit from enhanced early nutrition requires integration with the entire heifer-rearing program.

Andre Roy MSc.
Sally Charlton BSc. (Hons)
April 2003

his is the employment of management practices that reduce animal exposure to infectious agents. These management procedures complement efforts to make animals more resistant to infection. A Biosecurity program must be individually tailored to the herd and its specific concerns and goals.

Areas to consider include:

• Entry of new animals,
• Quarantine of new animals,
• Prepurchase vaccination, testing or screening for disease,
• Knowledge of the herd origin for new purchases,
• Minimize feed and water contamination
• Minimize environmental contamination,
• Disinfection procedures,
• Minimize contact between sick and healthy animals,
• Minimize faecal contamination,
• Fly and other insect control programs,
• Minimize contact with other species (including humans)

Biosecurity and Milk Replacers

The manufacturing processes of quality milk replacers ensure that the products are free of bacterial load and pathogens.
Grober products are consistent and formulated to high standards to ensure that the young animal is provided with the best possible nutrition and start in life.

Andre Roy MSc.
Sally Charlton BSc. (Hons)
April 2003

Grober Nutrition (Cambridge, Ontario), the leader in young animal nutrition and Förster-Technik (Engen, Germany), the world’s largest manufacturer of automatic calf feeders announce a technical partnership.

left to right
Mike Fortuna (CFO, Grober Nutrition), Thomas Förster (CEO/Managing Director, Förster Technik), Jan Ziemerink (Manager of Automation Services, Grober Nutrition), Markus Förster (CEO/Managing Director, Finance), Markus Kack (Research & Development, Förster Technik), Heather Copland (Marketing & Communications Manager, Grober Nutrition), Jerry Bartelse (CEO/President, Grober Nutrition)
Effective April 1, 2008, Grober Nutrition and Förster-Technik will be working in collaboration to support and promote the use of automatic calf feeders to the Canadian dairy farmer.

Grober’s farming division (Delft Blue Farms) was the first North American farm to utilize the Specialist heavy-duty calf feeder from Förster. Grober and Förster have continued to work together closely over the past 10 years.
While Förster is the world’s largest manufacturer of automatic calf feeders, the North American market place is only recently fully-realizing the value that automation plays at the dairy farm.

Grober will serve as Förster-Technik’s North American anchor for technical expertise. Grober’s 30-plus years’ experience in formulating outstanding milk replacers combined with their expertise in raising over 200,000 calves/year will provide the market with a needed-resource to support and promote the use of automatic calf feeders.

“Certainly, our vast experience using the Förster automatic calf feeders, and designing milk replacer formulas that operate optimally through these machines, has provided us with a unique experience to combine nutrition, expertise in calf  husbandry, and technical advice to the marketplace.” says Jerry Bartelse, President and owner of Grober Nutrition.
Thomas Förster, CEO and Managing Director, agrees. “Grober has a long and proven track record in group housing for calves, a system state-of-the-art in Europe but not yet across North America. Also we are sure that the dairy farmer will be successful with Grober’s milk replacer in our calf feeders to save labor and have faster growing animals. Together with Grober’s practical support in Canada this is a win-win situation for everyone.”

Grober Nutrition will support the leading suppliers of milking equipment (DeLaval, WestfaliaSurge, Lely) who distribute, sell and service the Förster-Technik automatic calf feeders. Grober will also provide support to the dairy nutrition companies for whom they make private label milk replacer. Grober will provide feeding schedules, advice on machine-housing as well as training on machine operation. Grober will also support operation, calibration, and function of machines at the dairy farm level through the equipment companies and Grober’s dairy nutrition customers. Sales, service and installation will remain under the milking equipment company’s responsibility.

With advancements in technology come opportunities. And while the Förster-Technik machines are user-friendly, technical and value-added support must be available.

Jan Ziemerink, Manager of Automation Services, Grober Inc., will be the contact for the Grober/Förster partnership. He can be reached at jziemerink@grober.com  or 519-622-2500 x 315 (office), 519-239-9756 (cell)
For more information pertaining to this News Release, please contact:
Contact: Heather Copland
Marketing & Communications Manager
Grober Nutrition
Tel: 800-265-7863 x 240
Email: hcopland@grober.com

Profitability in sheep farming is largely dependant on the number of lambs weaned per ewe per year (aim should be at least two).
High prolific breeds (e.g. Finn, Romanov) used in the breeding program can achieve and surpass this.
Lamb survival is a result of good ewe management before and during lambing and attention to early care of lambs.
Producers with flocks having a high percentage of multiple births should consider artificial rearing as a means to save and successfully rear more lambs and increase profitability.
Under good management, orphan, mis•mothered, and multiple lambs can be successfully reared on milk replacer at an economic cost.

How to Prepare the Ewe for a Successful Lambing

The fittest lambs are born to ewes that have been maintained correctly from pre-mating to lambing.
The ewe’s gestation period is from 144 to 151 days, with an average of 147 days. Weight gain is usual during pre-mating, followed by constant weight (condition score 2.5-3) between days 50-90 of pregnancy.
Nutrition needs increase significantly in the last 4-6 weeks of pregnancy and is important to support rapid fetal growth (70% of growth occurs in last 6 weeks).
Low birth-weight lambs tend to have a lower average daily gain than high birth-weight lambs (Greenwood et al, 1998). Also udder development for colostrum and milk production occurs at this time.
If nutrition is incorrect, Pregnancy Toxemia (Twin Lamb Disease) can result.
The ideal body condition score at lambing is 3-3.5. Ewes that are fat are prone to vaginal prolapse.

Ewe Management at Lambing

Provide lambing pens that are approximately 1.5 m² (1.8 square yards), with a corner divided off to give the lamb a safe area.
Pens must have dry and clean bedding for each ewe. Each ewe can expect to spend 1-2 days in this pen.
A ‘normal’ lambing has 3 stages: dilation of the cervix (approx. 4 hours); expulsion of lamb (up to 1 hour); expulsion of afterbirth (placenta) (2-3 hours after birth).
Ensure that lambs start breathing.
Clean mucus away from the nose and mouth.
Disinfect the lamb’s navel to prevent infection.
Encourage lamb to nurse as soon as possible to maximize absorption of Immunoglobulins from colostrum.
Weak lambs may need to be tube fed.
Observe lambs carefully to ensure they are feeding correctly and regularly and do not become chilled.
This is especially important for multiple births.

Preparation for Lamb Survival

 
Hypothermia: The greatest proportion of lamb deaths is caused by hypothermia (a combination of chilling and starvation), which can account for the death of about 30% of lambs born alive.
There are two critical periods: the first five hours of life (high heat loss) and 12 to 48 hours (inadequate heat production-starvation).
Lambs rectal temperature should be 39-40oC (102-104ºF); however a hypothermic lamb will have a temperature from 20-35ºC (68-95ºF).
Slowly warm up the lamb and feed colostrum or dextrose solution as soon as possible, consult a Veterinarian.
Lambs at greatest risk from hypothermia include: small and premature lambs, lambs which are weak and/or limp at birth, lambs from ewes in poor condition, lambs from very old or very young ewes, lambs born into a cold, wet, or windy environment (chilling reduces the suckling drive), twins and especially triplets.
Fat (energy) reserves in lambs are only 3% of body weight compared to 10-15% in adults.
Lambs require adequate colostrum and brown fat (a type of fat lambs are born with) to help maintain heat levels.
Brown fat reserves will be used within 3 days after birth.
A weak lamb or a lamb not receiving sufficient milk will be at risk.

Colostrum: Colostrum provides nutrients (high fat %) and immunoglobulins (Ig) which help prevent infection. Colostrum yield from ewes can be variable and low especially if the ewe has been underfed or is in poor condition.
Ideally use own mother colostrum, then pooled ewe colostrum from same flock, then pooled ewe colostrum from another flock (same disease status), then cow colostrum (30% more via one extra feed), then artificial colostrum.

Rearing Lambs Successfully on Milk Replacer

There are many techniques for feeding milk replacer to orphan, mis-mothered or multiple birth lambs.
The choice of system depends on number of lambs to be reared, individual preference, buildings, etc. Meticulous sanitation is critical for all systems.
The correct disinfection of mixing and feeding equipment will help prevent the proliferation of bloat and scour-causing organisms.

Milk Replacer: Only high quality lamb milk replacer should be used that has been formulated to a high fat content more similar to ewe’s milk.
Carefully selected ingredients ensure easy digestibility and solubility, thus increasing the absorption by the newborn lamb.
Optimum vitamin and mineral levels will assist growth and promote health and immune function. Copper should not be added to avoid toxicity problems.
It is important to follow the manufacturer instructions for mixing quantities and temperatures.
Once mixed in suspension, milk can be cooled and stored at refrigerated temperatures for 24 hours before feeding.
Under natural conditions a lamb will suckle the ewe up to 40 times each 24 hours.
Small frequent feedings are more beneficial.
Feed at manufacturers recommended rate according to average size of lamb. Milk consumption increases with the age and size of the lambs.
Typically a bottle fed lamb should consume 10kg (22 lbs) of milk powder and 13-15 kg (29-33 lbs) under free-choice feeding.

Feeding Methods:

Limit feeding: ideal for a small numbers of lambs.
A quantity of milk is fed via a nipple on a bottle or nipple pail (one nipple per lamb) 3-4 times per day.
It is labour intensive but can allow a reduced cost of the milk feeding period with an easier transition to solid feed and easier weaning.
Milk should be fed at 38-40C (100-104ºF), body temperature.

Free Choice Feeding: Typical systems include nipple pail units, teat bars and commercial automatic feeders.
Lambs have access to milk at all times and are group fed.
The milk supply must not be allowed to run out as lambs will easily over feed with new milk.
Milk should be fed warm or cool 4oC (39ºF) but not excessively cold. Typically, when milk is fed at 4oC (39ºF), it will be consumed in smaller amounts but more often.
This reduces digestive upsets from overeating.
In warm/hot weather, milk can be kept cold by floating a clean plastic (pop) bottle filled with frozen water in the milk replacer.
Each nipple can accommodate 5-6 lambs and must be 40-45cm (16-18ins) above the stall floor.
Lambs may require assistance in adapting to nipples for 1-2 days.
Free choice feeding can minimize labour but increase the possibility of disease transfer. Lambs can easily chew nipples which can result in milk replacer loss from the container.
Free choice feeding, results in a higher intake that encourages greater gains and so earlier weaning potential.

Lamb Pens: Lambs should be housed in a well-ventilated, draft-free shelter at temperatures of no less than 10 oC (50ºF).
To improve livability and performance, lambs should ideally be raised in a room at 15-18oC. Lambs bedded on straw with solid floors require 0.55m2 (0.66 square yards) of floor space per lamb.
Once established in a pen, lambs should not be moved and mixed with other lambs. It is best to feed lambs of the same age together.
Teat bar systems with 4 teats can provide for a pen of 20 lambs.
Commercial automatic feeders can feed 50-120 lambs per unit and so are ideal for dairy sheep operations or prolific breeds on accelerated systems.
After about 10 days, larger groups can be formed and 10-25 lambs can feed off one nipple.
Consult machine supplier for advice.

Feeding Lambs in Cold Conditions: Ensure lamb feeding equipment is protected from extreme environmental conditions to prevent large temperature variation and freezing of milk in pipes and containers.
Provide lambs with adequate milk to maintain a positive energy balance and growth performance.
Cold conditions can be a result of reduced air temperatures, higher humidity, wet bedding etc., or a combination of various factors.
When lambs reach negative energy balance, immune status can be easily compromised and the lambs become susceptible to disease.

Milk Sheep: It can increase marketable milk and may also improve total milk lactation production, by feeding a quality milk replacer to lambs from milking ewes.

Weaning: Lambs are usually weaned from 21-45 days of age (average 30 days) and 12 kg bodyweight.
Lambs should be consuming a minimum of 120-150 g (40-50 ounces) of creep ration per day for more than 2 consecutive days and have consumed a minimum of 10 kg of milk replacer.
Grober milk replacers are manufactured to the highest standards.
Grober research and on farm testing ensures the best nutritional products available for lamb growth and development.

Grober Lamb-Gro and good management provide a strong foundation for growth and production of lambs.

Contact Grober Nutrition or your Feed dealer for details and availability of Grober Lamb-Gro and Forster machines.