Weaning lambs
Weaning is a crucial time in the management of ewes and lambs.
It is when lambs are no longer allowed to nurse their dams and consume a milk diet. With the exception of artificially-reared lambs, weaning also involves separation from the dam. After weaning, lambs
may consume forage, grain-based, or mixed diets. Weaning is stressful for both ewes and lambs. Thus, minimizing the stress at weaning and easing the transition are important goals.
When to wean
There is no "best" age to wean. Weaning age varies greatly in the US sheep industry and around the world. According to the most recent NAHMS survey, it averages about 4 months. The "best" time to wean depends upon
many factors including facilities, availability of pasture and other feed
supplies, and target market(s). Lambs have been weaned successfully as early as 14 days, though this is rare and not recommended. The other "extreme" is to allow lambs to wean naturally, keeping with their dams for six months or more.
Some lambs are sent to market at the same time they are weaned.
Early in life, the lamb cannot digest anything but milk. Soon after birth, it begins nibbling on dry feed. By three weeks of age, its developing rumen makes the lamb more efficient
at converting feed than the ewe. Typically, the ewe's milk production peaks 3 to
4 weeks after lambing and steadily declines to about half as much
by 10 weeks. About 74 percent of all milk is produced in the first
8 weeks of lactation. Dairy ewes tend to have a flatter lactation curve, producing more milk over a longer period of time.
Early Weaning
Early weaning usually means weaning at any time
after 21 days of age, but usually before 90 days. Sixty (range 45 to 70) days
is a common weaning age in intensively managed sheep operations. It is common to wean lambs in a dairy sheep operation when they are 30 to 35 days of age.
Early weaning can be successful, provided lambs are drinking water
and consuming adequate amounts of dry feed, at least 0.5 pounds per day, preferably 1 pound. Creep feeding is an important part of early weaning programs. It is generally not recommended that pasture-reared lambs be weaned before they are 90 days old, preferably 120 days.
The size of the
lamb at weaning is generally more important than its actual age.
As a rule of thumb, most lambs can be weaned at 60 days of age
or 45 pounds, whichever comes first. Of course, this will vary by breed. Lambs don't need to get as big for the smaller, slower-growing breeds. Another rule of thumb is three times the birth weight.
Early weaning offers many advantages. Weaned lambs are very efficient
converters of feed to lean tissue. It is usually more efficient to feed grain to lambs than ewes because
lambs will convert feed to gain more efficiently than the ewes
can convert the feed to milk to lamb gain. Early weaning eases
the lactation stress of high-producing ewes, especially young ewes. It allows ewes to
return to breeding condition earlier, which is essential for accelerated
lambing programs.
Weaning lambs early and placing them in dry lot for finishing
saves pasture and enables the producer to maintain more ewes on
a given amount of land. Lambs fed in dry lot are spared the risk of worms and predators.In drought years, early weaning is a common strategy.
With early weaning, cull ewes can be sold earlier, sometimes for
higher prices. Lambs are usually marketed earlier in the year, when prices
are usually higher. However, early weaning is more stressful
to both the ewe and lambs. Ewes are more prone to mastitis because
they are still producing milk when their lambs are removed. Lambs are more stressed, thus more susceptible to disease, if not managed properly.
Orphan Lambs
Orphan lambs are a special case. Early weaning should always be the goal. Artificially-reared
lambs can be successfully weaned from a milk diet at 25 to 30
pounds body weight or when they are 30 to 42 days old. Weaning
abruptly is better than offering a diluted milk replacer the last
week. However, orphan lambs should not be weaned unless they are
consuming significant quantities of dry feed. Some producers delay hay feeding until after weaning, so the lambs don't bloat on high quality forage. Orphan lambs will probably do better in a dry lot than on pasture, unless the pasture diet is supplemented.
Late Weaning
Without intervention, weaning occurs naturally at approximately 6 months
of age. In a temperate climate that is usually the fall when the ewes begin returning to estrus. Spring-born
lambs are usually weaned later than winter-born and fall-born lambs.
In fact, it is not uncommon to leave spring-born lambs with their
dams on pasture until they are ready for market.
Four months is a typical late weaning age.
There are several advantages to late weaning. It is more natural
and results in less stress for the ewe and lambs. There is less
risk of the ewe developing mastitis since her milk production
has declined significantly by the time the lambs are removed. Late
weaning allows the producer to take advantage of available forage
for lambs. It enables the producer to keep ewes and lambs in the same management group.
Pasture gains can be more economical than those achieved
in a pen-feeding situation. On the other hand, lambs must compete
with ewes for the available forage, especially high quality forage. They are also more likely to become
infected with worm larvae and develop clinical signs of parasitism, sometimes even die. It is been recently learned that OPP (ovine progressive pneumonia) is transferred mostly laterally, from adult ewes to ewe lamb replacements. Early weaning will assist with OPP control.
Predator problems are greater when lambs are pastured. If male
lambs will be left with their dams past 3 to 4 months of age,
they should be castrated. Castrated rams do not grow as fast as
intact males. The short-scrotum procedure offers an alternative to castration (testicle removal) and may allow males to be co-mingled with their dams and female offspring, with little risk of breeding.
A comparison of early vs. late weaning
Early (less
than 90 days) |
Late (more
90 days) |
It is not necessary to castrate
ram lambs.
It is more efficient to feed grain to lambs than ewes.
It eases lactation stress of prolific ewes
It allows ewes to return to breeding condition earlier.
Cull ewes can be sold earlier.
Lambs can usually be marketed earlier.
Pasture is saved for ewes.
More ewes can be maintained on farm.
|
It is more natural.
Lambs and ewes are less stressed.
There is less risk of mastitis.
It requires less pens and/or pasture fields.
It takes advantage of available forage.
Pasture gains may be more economical than feedlot gains.
|
However . . .
It is more stressful to lambs and
ewes.
Ewes are more prone to mastitis.
Extra pens and/or pasture fields are needed.
|
However . . .
Lambs have to compete for the same pasture as ewes.
Lambs are more likely to become clinically-parasitized.
Lambs are exposed to more disease agents, inlcuding the virus that causes OPP.
Ram lambs usually need to be castrated. |
Preventing Mastitis
The main concern at weaning for ewes is to prevent mastitis
problems. Ewes with spoiled udders have reduced or no production value
in future years. The easiest way to prevent mastitis is to halt
milk production. Approximately two weeks before weaning, grain
should be removed from the ewes' diet. If possible, you should
feed a low quality forage prior to weaning. Feeding straw the
last 2 to 3 days before weaning further shuts down lactation.
After weaning, ewes should be maintained on low quality feed for
3 to 7 days to assist ewes in drying up. Some producers withhold
or restrict water intake before and after weaning. However, removing
water from the ewes' diet during hot weather can be dangerous
and is not recommended.
Ewes should not be turned out to lush pasture immediately after weaning. Spring forage is high in protein, water, and other nutrients
which promote milk production. Ewes should closely monitored for signs of mastitis. Ewes with mastitis should be given veterinary care. Ewes with spoiled udders should be culled.
Weaning Environment
Generally, weaning is more stressful for lambs than ewes.
At weaning, the lambs are challenged not only by being separated
from their mothers, but also by their need to fend for themselves
nutritionally. Their immune systems are not fully developed,
and they are more susceptible to disease, especially internal parasites (worms + coccidia).
When weaning, the ewes
should be removed from the lambs, not vice versa. By leaving
lambs in the same location, they will experience less stress
and are less likely to go off feed because they will know where
the feeders, minerals, and water are.
It has generally recommended that ewes and lambs be kept far enough
apart that they can't hear each other. It is important to maintain
the same groupings during weaning, e.g. keep siblings together.
Newly weaned lambs should have plenty of clean, fresh water
at all times. Lambs should be kept on the same feed before and after
weaning until the stress of weaning has past (7-10 days).
Feeds containing urea should not be fed for at least 2 weeks
past weaning.
Lambs weaned at 10 weeks of age will recognize and return to
their dams after 2 months of separation. After weaning, twins
will stay together for the first few days.
Newly-weaned lambs should be closely monitored for health problems.
Coccidiosis is most common in weanling lambs. Weaned lambs are also highly susceptible to worm parasites, as they lack immunity. Enterotoxemia
(overeating disease type D) is more common in early weaned lambs.
It can be prevented with vaccination. Lambs from vaccinated
dams should receive their first vaccination for type D at approximately
6-8 weeks of age, followed by a booster 2 to 4 weeks later. All vaccinations should be given prior to weaning.
Low stress weaning
Creep feeding reduces the stress of weaning, especially early weaning. With cattle, the
stress of weaning has been reduced by allowing the cow and calf
to have fenceline contact. However, this practice does not seem to have the same beneficial effect on lambs. On the other hand, a two-stage weaning process has been shown to reduce the weaning stress. In the two-stage weaning process, lambs are prevented from suckling for one week prior to separation from their dams. Traditional weaning usually involves abrupt separation of ewes and lambs.
An Australian company (www.easywean.com.au)
markets a "nose ring" or anti-sucking device that prevents
lambs from nursing (the ewe rejects attempts to suckle), which
dries up the ewe's lactation while maintaining the maternal
bond and allowing ewes and lambs to be managed as a single mob.
The ring is a plastic device that clips into the partition between
the lamb's nostrils. It should stay on for 2 weeks to allow
the ewe's lactation to dry up. The rings are reusable and 90
percent effective. They reduce weaning stress and enhance animal
performance. They do not prevent the lamb from grazing.
Lambs should be weighed around the time of weaning in order to calculate
adjusted weaning weights (60, 90 or 120-day). Lambs with the highest adjusted
weaning weights should be favored for breeding. Ewes that wean
the heaviest litters will make the most money and should be
favored in breeding and selection decisions. Weaning weights are indicative of a ewe's performing ability ane one of the most important traits determining profitablity of the sheep enterprise. Post-weaning weights are more indicative of the sire's influence on growth. They are important, but less important than maternal producing ability.