Last year we fed milk replacement to some lambs by bottle. The ewes that produces triplets and quads are left with two of their lambs to feed. The additional lambs are pulled from the ewe and fed milk replacement to ensure that the ewe has enough milk to feed two lambs.
Disadvantages of feeding by bottle, milk bar or bucket is:
1) lambs get needed number of feedings each day spread out. Once they finish it they have to wait until the next feeding time
2) lots of flies land in milk if not enclosed
3) milk gets cold and some lambs don’t drink enough
4) we have to be available to mix milk and provide each feeding
5) lambs get too hungry between feedings
2022 We decided to invest in a milk machine for improving this part of lambing.
Advantages of using a milk machine to feed lambs:
1) so much cleaner because it’s closed up and will be protected from flies landing in the milk
2) easy to teach lambs to drink
3) mix milk once daily and leave
4) milk is warmed upon suckling from the milk machine nipple.
5) no spoilage