Importance of Prelambing Feeding
High levels of lamb mortality are a great source of loss to sheep farmers. Most published reports relating to lamb survival show the first week after lambing is critical with an estimated 60% of lamb deaths occurring at that time.
The ability of the lamb to survive is dependent on its body weight at birth which is in turn related to the nutrition and environmental stress experienced by the ewe.
Because of this adequate nutrition of the ewe prelambing is essential for increasing lamb survival rate.
Vitamin E:
Recent research has reported beneficial influences on lamb survival due to the supplementation of the ewe with vitamin E for the period 30 days before lambing.
Vitamin E seems to improve lamb vigour directly after birth and is recognised as best sheep management practice, recommended by the British Ministry of Agriculture.
Fat soluble vitamins A and E do not pass readily on to the ewe, unlike macro minerals and trace elements that are actively transplanted through the placenta to the developing foetus.
Because of this nutrient rich colostrums which provides both immunoglobulins and high levels of fat soluble vitamins is an essential requirement for the new born lamb.
Vitamin E in pasture:
Vitamin E concentrations in pasture fall dramatically as the plant matures from the young green vegetative state to mature stalky forage. This means after a prolonged period of consuming low quality forage the capacity of the ewe to produce Vitamin E rich colostrum can be compromised.
Results:
A recent British study examined the influence of supplementing the ewes with Vitamin E on behavioural responses in lambs. The study showed that lambs born of those ewes attempted to stand and suckle sooner.
In both American and British studies the optimum levels of Vitamin E supplementation were 100-150 IU/head/day for 30 days before lambing causing concentrations in ewe colostrums to be significantly elevated.
All diets contained sufficient selenium and therefore responses were due to vitamin E supplementation alone.
Product to carry the nutrient:
In Australias very extensive grazing systems it is difficult to achieve a target daily intake of a supplement that could act as a carrier for essential nutrients like Vitamin E.
However a cattle industry product called Anipro has been successful and has now been applied to the sheep market.
A controlled daily intake of the supplement at predetermined target levels is achieved by blending acidic with sweet molasses based supplements on farm. The acidic nature of the mixtures prevent the supplements fermenting in the trough should rainfall occur.
Recent experiments at the University of Queensland Veterinary Research Laboratory investigated the benefit of Anipro supplements containing extra Vitamin E to pregnant ewes fed low quality forages. Ewes supplemented produced lambs with significantly higher birth rates. There were also significant improvements in the live weight gains of lambs during the first week of life. The lambs also exhibited the highest growth rates.
Supplement with grain feed:
Most grass based feed stuffs dont produce enough glucose in lactating animals to stimulate good colostrum production. However supplementing with a grain type food can improve production.
Source: Importance of Prelambing Feeding in Order to Improve Colostrum Supply and Lamb Survival - Dr Bob Elliott, February 2006
The ability of the lamb to survive is dependent on its body weight at birth which is in turn related to the nutrition and environmental stress experienced by the ewe.
Because of this adequate nutrition of the ewe prelambing is essential for increasing lamb survival rate.
Vitamin E:
Recent research has reported beneficial influences on lamb survival due to the supplementation of the ewe with vitamin E for the period 30 days before lambing.
Vitamin E seems to improve lamb vigour directly after birth and is recognised as best sheep management practice, recommended by the British Ministry of Agriculture.
Fat soluble vitamins A and E do not pass readily on to the ewe, unlike macro minerals and trace elements that are actively transplanted through the placenta to the developing foetus.
Because of this nutrient rich colostrums which provides both immunoglobulins and high levels of fat soluble vitamins is an essential requirement for the new born lamb.
Vitamin E in pasture:
Vitamin E concentrations in pasture fall dramatically as the plant matures from the young green vegetative state to mature stalky forage. This means after a prolonged period of consuming low quality forage the capacity of the ewe to produce Vitamin E rich colostrum can be compromised.
Results:
A recent British study examined the influence of supplementing the ewes with Vitamin E on behavioural responses in lambs. The study showed that lambs born of those ewes attempted to stand and suckle sooner.
In both American and British studies the optimum levels of Vitamin E supplementation were 100-150 IU/head/day for 30 days before lambing causing concentrations in ewe colostrums to be significantly elevated.
All diets contained sufficient selenium and therefore responses were due to vitamin E supplementation alone.
Product to carry the nutrient:
In Australias very extensive grazing systems it is difficult to achieve a target daily intake of a supplement that could act as a carrier for essential nutrients like Vitamin E.
However a cattle industry product called Anipro has been successful and has now been applied to the sheep market.
A controlled daily intake of the supplement at predetermined target levels is achieved by blending acidic with sweet molasses based supplements on farm. The acidic nature of the mixtures prevent the supplements fermenting in the trough should rainfall occur.
Recent experiments at the University of Queensland Veterinary Research Laboratory investigated the benefit of Anipro supplements containing extra Vitamin E to pregnant ewes fed low quality forages. Ewes supplemented produced lambs with significantly higher birth rates. There were also significant improvements in the live weight gains of lambs during the first week of life. The lambs also exhibited the highest growth rates.
Supplement with grain feed:
Most grass based feed stuffs dont produce enough glucose in lactating animals to stimulate good colostrum production. However supplementing with a grain type food can improve production.
Source: Importance of Prelambing Feeding in Order to Improve Colostrum Supply and Lamb Survival - Dr Bob Elliott, February 2006