Caring for lambs may seem easy at a glance, but so much goes into helping these adorable little animals grow, attain various milestones, and reach maturity. Ensuring they consume enough milk is a vital part of the job. So, knowing how to tell if a lamb is getting enough milk is imperative.
Monitoring milk intake in your lambs is much easier if you bottle-feed them than if they get milk directly from their mother through breastfeeding. Fortunately, different things will tell you whether your lambs get enough milk.
Keep reading to discover them.
6 WAYS TO CHECK IF YOUR LAMB IS GETTING ENOUGH MILK
Here’s how to tell if a lamb is getting enough milk.
1. WEIGHT GAIN
A lamb that receives enough milk gains weight consistently. Since weight changes may be subtle and hard to tell by just looking at your lambs, track their weight by weighing them regularly and closely monitoring their progress.
Lambs grow at different rates, with some gaining weight and developing faster than others. Several factors influence their growth rate; these include breed, genetics, nutrition, and environmental conditions. However, on average, lambs usually experience a growth spurt in the first couple of months of their lives.
Your lambs can gain 10% to 15% of their birth weight in their first week on earth and double the birth weight at the end of their first month. Your lambs will keep gaining weight rapidly from weeks 4 to 8, putting on 0.5 to 1.0 kg (1.10 to 2.2 pounds) weekly.
By the time your lamb reaches 3 to 4 months, it could weigh up to 50 to 60 kg (110 to 132 pounds). However, this will depend on the breed and genetics.
The growth rate may slow down somewhat following this growth spurt, but lambs can continue gaining weight steadily throughout their first year of life. Adequate nutrition, especially milk, high-quality forage, and grain, can help your lambs grow healthy and reach their full potential.
2. EXAMINING PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES
You can tell your sheep is getting enough milk by just looking at them. When your lambs are full, their bellies will appear round and firm, especially in the abdomen’s lower portion. If the belly feels soft or sunken, the lamb may not be getting enough milk.
While a full belly strongly suggests that your lambs’ nutritional needs are met, there are other factors to consider to gauge their nutritional status. Sheep require a balanced diet to make sure they get enough proteins, vitamins, carbs, and minerals necessary for growth, maintenance, and reproduction.
Working with an experienced veterinarian or livestock nutritionist can help ensure that your sheep receive optimal nutrition.
Properly fed lambs will also wag their tails, have moist, warm mouths and alert ears, and do not have a hunched posture when standing. In addition, they have shiny coats and bright eyes.
3. MILK INTAKE
One of the easiest ways to tell your lamb receives enough milk is by observing their nursing time. Simply put, a lamb is likely getting sufficient if it nurses for a long period.
Besides observing their suckling time, measure the amount of time your lamb consumes during each feeding session, if possible. A healthy lamb typically consumes milk equivalent to around 20% of its body weight each day.
A lamb’s milk consumption rate may vary based on several factors, including its age, weight, and nutritional needs. In general, a newborn lamb requires frequent feedings comprising tiny amounts of milk. On the other hand, an older lamb will take larger volumes but less frequently.
Here is a table showing milk consumption rates and quantities of lambs at different ages.
| Age of The Lamb | Number of Feeding Times In A Day | Amount of Milk Per Feeding |
| Newborn (Up to A week) | 4 to 6 times | 50 to 100 ml |
| 1 to 2 Weeks | 3 to 4 times | 150 to 200 ml |
| 2 to 3 Weeks | 2 to 3 times | 250 to 300 ml |
| 3 to 4 Weeks | 2 times | 400 to 500 ml |
Note
The table above only offers general guidelines. The amount of milk your lamb will consume may be higher or lower, including how often they do so.
It is also imperative to ensure the milk your lambs consume is high quality and has enough essential nutrients to aid lamb development and growth. If you have concerns about your lambs’ milk intake or nutritional needs, you consult with a livestock nutritionist or an experienced veterinarian for guidance.
4. ACTIVITY LEVEL
Lambs are usually very playful and active, especially at a tender age. They love jumping, running, and playing together and are generally curious and energetic little cute animals. You will fund your lambs playing around when they are satisfied and healthy.
Therefore, if your lamb appears playful and active, chances are, they are well-fed. On the other hand, lethargic or weak may be feeling hungry due to insufficient milk. However, remember that a dip in activity levels may indicate other issues like sickness.
Lambs play in their natural environment to develop and enhance their social skills and physical abilities. They do this by engaging in numerous activities such as chasing each other, butting heads, and jumping over obstacles, all of which help to build their strength and coordination.
Domesticated lambs raised on farms may have fewer opportunities for play, depending on their living conditions and management practices. However, you can provide your lambs with an enriching environment to aid their well-being, boost natural behavior, and provide them with ample space to be themselves. Do this by providing large pastures or play areas with many obstacles and toys.
READ ALSO: WHY DO SHEEP JUMP IN THE AIR? 7 INTERESTING FACTS
5. CONTENTMENT
A lamb with a full belly is understandably more relaxed and content compared to a milk deprived, hungry one. If content, you will likely find your lamb lying comfortably and sleeping, while a hungry one may be more active and vocal.
6. URINE AND FECES
A healthy lamb passes urine and feces regularly, so if your lamb is not regularly passing urine or feces, it may not be getting enough milk. Like every other newborn mammal, a lamb has a tiny digestive system that swiftly processes milk. As a result, lambs urinate and defecate frequently, typically after a feeding session.
In the first few days of life, a lamb may urinate and defecate every one to two hours. As they grow and their digestive system matures, they will become more efficient at processing milk and may reduce the frequency of elimination.
Monitoring your lamb’s urine and feces output is essential to ensuring they are pooping and peeing normally and regularly. Closely monitor changes in urine or feces consistency or frequency because it could signify that your lambs aren’t getting enough milk or experiencing health issues.
HOW TO MAKE SURE YOUR LAMBS GET ENOUGH MILK
The well-being and health of your lambs, especially during their early days on earth, significantly depend on milk. This precious commodity provides the vitamins, minerals, proteins, and fats the lambs need to grow.
Also, milk keeps lambs hydrated, especially in dry or hot conditions, protecting them from dehydration. Additionally, milk has antibodies that offer protection against infection and disease.
Knowing the benefits of milk to lambs, making sure your lambs get enough milk is essential. For this reason, here is how to ensure they consume sufficient milk.
READ ALSO: WHEN DO LAMBS START DRINKING WATER? HOW MUCH TO GIVE THEM
A) OBSERVE YOUR LAMBS WHEN BREASTFEEDING
Your lambs will nurse a couple of times a day, and although seeing them suckling will inform you that they are getting milk, that isn’t enough. You must ensure they latch and drink the milk well. In addition, they should nurse for about 10 to 15 minutes per session.
B) MONITOR THE EWE’S MILK PRODUCTION
Your nursing ewes need to produce sufficient milk for their lambs. You are responsible for ensuring they do. You can tell a ewe has enough milk by watching her udder with a full udder showing your ewe has sufficient milk.
On the other hand, your ewe may not be producing enough milk if her udder isn’t full or if the lamb nurses for a longer time.
C) SUPPLEMENT WITH BOTTLE FEEDING
Consider supplementing your lamb’s milk intake through bottle feeding if you are concerned about the milk production of your ewes and your lamb’s breastfeeding. Do so by bottle feeding your lambs fresh milk for the ewe or milk replacer.
You can buy milk replacers from feed stores and ensure the nipples and bottles you use are sterilized and clean. When bottle feeding your lambs, make sure they are comfortable with their heads properly supported and not suckling with difficulty. In addition, burp your lamb afterward, then wash and sterilize the nipple and bottle.
D) PROVIDE A COMFORTABLE, CLEAN ENVIRONMENT
Help your lambs conserve energy by providing a warm, clean, dry environment so they can relax and rest once they finish nursing.
FINAL REMARKS
Give your lambs the best chance for proper growth by ensuring they drink high-quality milk sufficiently. Lambs require close monitoring, and that includes ensuring they get enough milk. Use the ways discussed above to determine if your lambs get sufficient milk.
