What can I feed a baby lamb if I don't have lamb milk replacer?

Question

We have a baby lamb we can't get and replacement lambs milk for it at home we only have freash milk that we drink and my expressed milk if the freezer what can I give it

Dr. Strydom, DVM · Accepted Answer

Did the lamb get colostrum? If not, you need to call your vet out ASAP to get him some. There is a homemade recipe you can follow but sheep's colostrum is going to be best. It would be more helpful if you mentioned the lamb's age. Homemade colostrum substitute: 680ml cow's milk 1 x beaten egg 1x teaspoon cod liver oil 1 x teaspoon glucose -feed 50mls every three hours for the first 24 hours. If your lamb is small and weak feed smaller quantities (20-50 ml) more frequently (every 4 hours). This is not ideal and does not contain the antibodies that are passed to the lamb through the colostrum, but if you don't have colostrum it can give the lamb an energy boost and it will help him pass his first stool. After he has had a day of colostrum, your lamb will need to go onto a normal sheep's milk substitute. If you find an orphaned lamb and do not have any sheep milk replacement, you can feed the lamb full cream powdered milk until you can buy some. You can feed warmed pasteurised full cream cow's milk if you have nothing else. Switch to sheep milk replacement as soon as possible and follow the manufacturer's instructions on how to prepare it. Buy the best brand you can afford and use the same brand until the lamb is weaned. This will reduce the risk of abdominal upsets and scours. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

What can I feed a baby lamb if I don't have lamb milk replacer?

Most Helpful Answer

Related Questions

My degu lost teeth after an accident. How can I feed him soft foods?

My rat is losing weight and has breathing issues. What should I do?

Is my pet's occasional sneezing and eye crust a URI symptom?

How to keep a pet mom and her newborn babies warm and calm?

Why is my 5-week-old chick struggling to walk with splayed legs?

My sick small pet is breathing mouth open. Did I drown her feeding?

Share