1. Developmental Stages of Lambs
Dr. Dan Morrical
Iowa State University

2. Development Stages of Lamb Digestive System
Birth - 3 weeks pre-ruminant
3-8 weeks - psuedo ruminant
8 weeks & on - ruminant

3. Birth: Solely dependent on milk
Composition of ewes milk:
18.2% dry matter
5-7% fat
24.7% crude protein
26.4% lactose
1400 IU / liter Vit A
15 IU / liter Vit E

4. Milk Yield and Composition Impact Lamb Performance
•Higher milk fat leads to increase energy intake
•ISU creep trials: 16, 21 & 26% CP
No variation in performance
•Megalac increases milk fat

5. Creep Diets Palatable -Corn -Soybean meal -Molasses -DDGS
-Soybean hulls
Roughage is of minimal value
Lambs get adequate roughage intake from ewe diets

6. Creep Diets
•Easily digestible
•15-20% crude protein
•Added fat

7. Creep Ration Corn 1470 SBM 49% 370 Molasses 100 Limestone 40
Big GainTM salt 10
Ammonium Chloride 10
CTC 50 grams
Selenium .2 grams
Vitamin A 1,000,000 IU
Vitamin D 100,000 IU
Vitamin E 50,000 IU
Zinc 136 grams
Crude protein 16.7%
TDN 83.4%
Calcium .84%
Phosphorous .38%

8. Ration Physical Characterics
Very young lambs Meal form
3-8 weeks Medium grind
8-12 weeks Coarse grind
>12 weeks Whole grains

9. Nutrient Requirements
Factors :
Sex
Lean Growth Potential
Weight

10. Composition of Gain Rams Lambs Superior Wethers Intermediate
Ewe Lambs Poorest

11. Mature Size
Lambs are market ready at 65% of average mature weight of ewes of parent breeds.
220 lb. sire lb. dam = 400 ÷ 2 = 200.
200 x .65% = 130.

12. % Protein Concentration of Lamb Rations
ADG
Lamb Wt

13. Protein Quantity and Quality
Very young lambs -
solely dependent on feed protein
for quality and quantity
Ruminant
-Protein quality depends on
Feed origin
Bacterial origin

14. Ruminant - Protein Quantity
•Intake
•Microbial yield
-impacted by energy intake
-rumen ammonia level
-liquid dilution rate

15. Rumen Bacteria Cellulolytic - Fiber digesters
Amylolytic - Starch digesters
Proteolytic - Bacterial protein digesters

16. Lamb Intake Controlled by: Low concentrate diets -- fill
Energy
Low concentrate diets -- fill
High concentrate diets -- energy

17. Specific Nutrients Vit E. 40,000 IU/ton Se .3 ppm Ca .48 P .24
Salt %

18. What Type of Ration 1. Targeted marketing date.
2. Relative costs of nutrients.
3. Compositional goal.
4. Facility size.
5. Feed processing equipment & storage.
6. Feeding system.

19. Simplest System Whole corn: Pelleted Protein Supplement. Advantages:
-Superior feed efficiency
-Self fed
-Low processing costs
-Low cost diet
-Acidosis risk

20. Simplest System...continued
Disadvantages:
-Sorting
-Slower gains
-Quality of protein supplement
-Cash expense for protein pellet

21. High Hay Rations Advantages: -Minimal cash outlay
-Value added to hay crop
-Improved composition
Disadvantages:
-Lower ADG
-More facilities, bunks and pens
-Hay waste

22. Weaned Lamb Performance on Grass
Factors - Forage Species
Grass vs. legumes
-Age of lamb
-Health of lambs
-Condition of lambs

23. Lamb Gains on Straight Grass
pounds per day
w/pound supplementation
Conversion 1:10 to 1:5

24. Escape Protein for Pasture Lambs
Sources:
•Blood Meal
•Fish Meal
•Corn Gluten Meal

25. Nursing Lamb Performance on Grass
Milk Production is Key
1. Rotational grazing
a. high quality and quantity of forage
b. reduced competition between ewe & offspring
2. Creep Feeding
a. improved growth
b. allows coccidia control
c. increases cost of production

26. Internal Parasite Control Strategies
1. Clean pasture
2. Clean sheep
3. Sheep age & resistance

27. Clean Pasturers 1. Not grazed by sheep for six months.
Hay ground
Cattle pasture
2. Rotate sheep & cattle middle of growing season.
3. Turn our clean sheep to minimize contamination.

28. Clean Sheep Older sheep are more resistant.
Young lambs evaluate frequently until 6 months of age.
Treat before turn-out, retreat at 21-days.
Multiple water sources.

29. Coddidia Control 1. Multiple water sources 2. Ionophores in mineral ?
3. Clean out ewes prelambing
4. Clean water source