Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Feeding Lambs and Sheep
Most people who raise sheep raise them on pasture and forage, along with salt and mineral
supplements. Some people feed hay. But commercial sheep feeds are available. Sheep should
be fed concentrated feed in the form of grain before and during breeding season and at times
of peak production.
Sheep cannot tolerate very much copper in their diet, but they do need some. It is a mistake to
leave out all copper from their diet.
It is normal to begin feeding lambs still in the pen with their mother a creep ration that in-
cludes supplemental concentrates, along with hay. A creep ration is feed that is sometimes fed
to lambs that are about 3 weeks old, when they are starting to become interested in adult food.
You can begin feeding them this ration as early as 21 days old. The “creep” is an area in the
pen where the lambs can reach food but the ewe is too large to go, so she cannot get to their
feed.
Sheep Health
There is a saying in the veterinary field, “sick sheep seldom survive,” which sadly holds true
in far too many cases. Sheep are notorious for hiding sickness, most likely because they are
prey animals and often must hide illness from predators as not to appear weak. A sick sheep
will give few, if any, signs at being sick until it is obvious it is ill. By then, it may be unable to
stand.
Lamb care
Lambs should have their tails docked to prevent fly strike, a condition where flies deposit
eggs in the skin of the lamb, which will hatch into maggots. Docking consists of using a stout,
rubber ring (elastrator) to remove the tail. The specially compounded elastrator ring is put in
place around the tail with a pair of elastrator pliers and cuts off circulation to the tail, produ-
cing a feeling of numbness. The feeling quickly passes, and the tail falls off after a few days.
It should be done when the lamb is 7 weeks old. The ring is applied about 1.5 inches from the
base of the tail. Male lambs not intended for breeding should be castrated by using the same
type of rubber rings used in tail docking. The ring is applied just above the testicles; make
sure both testicles are in the scrotum. Ask for a demonstration from an experienced shepherd
or veterinarian before you perform this task for the first time. The rubber ring is simply a
