Weaning lambs and kids
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Transcript of 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
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
WeaningRemoval of milk diet from young mammals
http://www.slideshare.net/schoenian/weaning
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
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.
There are many factors to consider when deciding when to wean
AgeSeason of birthParasite problemsPredator risksMarketAvailable laborFacilitiesForage availability
… and quality
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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
Creep feedSmall particlesEasily digestedFreshPalatableHigh proteinAlways available
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
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
When is late weaning common?(Semi) extensive
production systemLate (spring)
lambingPasture lambingLess prolific
ewes/doesNo creep feedingFinish lambs and
kids on pasture.Abundant pasture
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)
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
Management before weaning
CD-T VaccinationsPrevention of
coccidiosisReduce milk
production in female
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
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
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.
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
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?
Thank you for your attention. Questions?
Susan Schoenian
www.sheepandgoat.com SMALL RUMINANT PROGRAM