Weaning lambs and kids

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SUSAN SCHOENIAN (Shāy-nē-ŭn) Sheep & Goat Specialist Western Maryland Research & Education Center [email protected] – www.sheepandgoat.com 2011 Ewe and Doe Management Webinar Series SMALL RUMINANT PROGRAM

description

This presentation is the sixth in a series of webinars on the management of the ewe and doe from late gestation through weaning.

Transcript of Weaning lambs and kids

Page 1: Weaning lambs and kids

SUSAN SCHOENIAN (Shāy-nē-ŭn) Sheep & Goat Specialist

Western Maryland Research & Education [email protected] – www.sheepandgoat.com

2011 Ewe and Doe Management

Webinar Series

SMALL RUMINANT PROGRAM

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Jan 13 I. Late Gestation

Jan 20 II. Vaccinations

Feb 3 III. Parturition

Feb 10 IV. Neonatal Care

Feb 17 V. Lactation

Feb 24 VI. Weaning

2011 Ewe and Doe Management Webinar Series

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WeaningRemoval of milk diet from young mammals

http://www.slideshare.net/schoenian/weaning

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Weaning age in sheep and goatsVaries from 14 days to

more than six months (natural).

Early < 90 days

In a dairy sheep operation, it is common to wean lambs at 30 to 35 days of age.

When lambs and kids are artificially reared, it is common to wean them between 6 and 8 weeks of age.

Late > 90 days

Natural

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Weaning

There is no best time to wean.

There are pros and cons to different weaning ages and systems.

Weaning must be appropriate for the circumstances and production system.

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There are many factors to consider when deciding when to wean

AgeSeason of birthParasite problemsPredator risksMarketAvailable laborFacilitiesForage availability

… and quality

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Lambs2.5 to 3 times birth

weight.20 to 25 lbs. for

artificially-reared.40 to 50 lbs. if

raised on the dam.

2 to 2.5 times birth weight.

20 to 25 lbs. for meat and dairy kids.

Better to wean by size than age

Kids

Lamb or kid needs to be consuming enough dry feed to support

maintenance and continued growth in the absence of milk in the diet.

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PROSEases lactation stress of

high producing females.

Helps prolific females raise their offspring.

Allows females to return to breeding condition sooner.

There is less worm burden and predator risk when lambs and kids are weaned early and fed for market or breeding.

Early weaning14-90 days (usually 60-90 days)

Feed cost savings: it is cheaper to feed lambs and kids than dams + offspring.

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CONSCauses stress to females

and their offspring.

There is a greater risk of mastitis as females are still producing milk at the time of weaning.

More facilities and pastures are needed.

Requires a higher degree of management.

Early weaning

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When is early weaning common?

(Semi) intensive production system

Early (winter) lambingShed lambingProlific femalesCreep feedingFinish lambs and kids on

grain or grain + forageArtificially-reared lambs

and kids.Sheep dairyShow animalsPasture is a limiting factor

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Weaning artificially-reared lambs and kids

6 to 8 weeks is optimal 2 to 3 x birth weight Minimum 20 to 25 lbs. Need to be consuming enough

dry feed to support maintenance and continued growth.

Why not wean later? Cost of milk (replacer) Labor Retard rumen development

and consumption of dry feed.

Wean abruptly Do not dilute milk or reduce

feedings.

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Creep feeding

Providing supplemental nutrition to nursing lambs and kids.

Need to set up creep area where lambs/kids can enter but ewes and does are excluded.

Within 7 to 10 days of birth. In a high traffic area. Several openings. Good visibility Clean, dry, and well-bedded

Some rules of thumb:2 in. (5 cm) feeder space per lamb/kid

2 ft2 (0.19 m2) of creep pen per lamb/kid

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Creep feedSmall particlesEasily digestedFreshPalatableHigh proteinAlways available

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PROS

Less stressful to dams and offspring.

Less risk of females developing mastitis.

Takes advantage of available forage to finish lambs and kids.

Pasture gains are often more economical than those achieved on grain.

Can manage animals in one group.

Late weaning> 90 days

More natural

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CONS

Lambs and kids must compete with ewes and does for pasture.

Lambs and kids are more likely to become parasitized.

Predator risk is higher.

It may be necessary to castrate or separate males.

Late weaning> 90 days

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When is late weaning common?(Semi) extensive

production systemLate (spring)

lambingPasture lambingLess prolific

ewes/doesNo creep feedingFinish lambs and

kids on pasture.Abundant pasture

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Creep grazing

Creep feeding on pasture

Creep feeding

• To improve growth rates of lambs and kids.• Get lambs and kids to market earlier.• Economics may vary by farm, species, and year.• Better nutrition (pasture or supplement) will improve parasite

resilience.

Image source: Otago Daily Times (NZ)

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Minimizing weaning stress Creep feeding reduces the stress of

weaning.

Wean dams from offspring, not the other way around. Keep lambs and kids in their pre-

weaning surroundings and groupings.

Do not change the diet of lambs and kids drastically the two weeks before or after weaning.

Perform vaccinations and other management tasks at least two weeks before weaning.

In cattle, fenceline reduces the stress of weaning (lambs and kids - ?)

Anti-suckle device

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Management before weaning

CD-T VaccinationsPrevention of

coccidiosisReduce milk

production in female

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VACCINATED DAMSVaccinate lambs and

kids with CD-T toxoid at approximately 6 and 10 weeks of age.

Vaccinate lambs and kids with CD-T toxoid at approximately 4 and 8 weeks of age.

Administer tetanus antitoxin at the time of docking, castrating, or disbudding.

CD-T vaccinationsClostridium perfringins type C & D and tetanus

UNVACCINATED DAMS

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Coccidiostats*Bovatec®

30 g/ton of feedRumensin®

15 g/ton of feedDeccox®

Add 2 lbs. of the 6% Deccox to 50 lbs. of loose trace-mineral salt.

Put in drinking water for 21 daysMix 1.5 oz of 9.6% oral

solution in 100 gallons of drinking water

Drench lambs and kids for 21 daysMix 1.5 oz of 9.6% oral

solution in 1 pint of water.Administer 1 oz per 100 lbs.

Prevention of coccidiosis

Amprolium (Corid)

*Rumensin® is extremely toxic to equines. Do not allow equines to consume any coccidiostats.

Source: http://old.cvm.msu.edu/extension/Rook/ROOKpdf/coccidia.PDF

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Drying off femalesPlan ahead of time

Remove grain and protein from ration 1 to 2 weeks prior to weaning.

Remove good hay from ration several days prior to weaning.

Feed low quality hay or straw for several days after weaning.

Restrict water intake shortly before and after weaning(?)

Watch ewes for engorged udders and signs of mastitis.

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There is no right answer!

Depends on your market Depends on current and

anticipated prices Depends on your availability

of feed or forage. Depends upon your cost to

put additional gain on lambs or kids.

What do you do after weaning with the lambs and kids?

Take them to market or keep them for further feeding or grazing

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Sell them if they have a physical problem, are getting too old, or are a poor producer.

If they are on the thin side, “fatten” them a bit before selling.

Keep the productive ones . . . and their offspring.

What about the ewes and does?

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Thank you for your attention. Questions?

Susan Schoenian

[email protected]

www.sheepandgoat.com SMALL RUMINANT PROGRAM