An Udder from Another Mother: Bottle Feeding Small Ruminants

By Dr. Emily Nogay

Raising babies is no joke. Whether that be human or animal, it can be exhausting, scary, and overwhelming. To make matters even worse, those first few months of life are incredibly important for setting them up for success later in life. Small ruminants are no different, and finding the correct information on how to successfully raise them can be difficult. Don’t forget that there may be information out there, but that doesn’t make it good information. Always be sure to consult your veterinarian to further understand what works and what doesn’t for your situation.

In the first few days of life, kids and lambs should be given colostrum directly from the dam. This is the first milk from the dam, which appears more golden in color and thicker than regular milk. Colostrum carries important antibodies, micronutrients, and active enzymes from the dam and transfers them to the kid or lamb, who can absorb those antibodies within the first 24 hours of life. Ideally, babies receive their first dose of colostrum within the first 4 hours of life for adequate transfer. This feeding sets the animal’s immune system up for its first few months of life.

If colostrum from the dam cannot be fed, it is best to feed colostrum from another doe or ewe, ideally one from the same farm (milking colostrum from does and ewes with excess and freezing it for future use is helpful). If feeding frozen colostrum, slowly warm it in a warm water bath. Do not place colostrum in the microwave or at water temperatures above 120° F, as it can begin to destroy antibodies and enzymes.

If true colostrum is not available, sheep and goat colostrum replacers are the last option. Be aware of the distinction between a colostrum replacer and a colostrum supplement. Supplements do not contain enough antibodies to be used alone and will fail passive transfer (inadequate immunity due to poor colostrum). Colostrum can be continued for the first two to three days of life. After 24 hours, they cannot absorb the antibodies; however, it is also a good source of vitamin A, energy, and protein.

After colostrum, the best milk to feed is directly from the dam. If milk from the dam is not an option, previously frozen milk from other does or ewes is best. Milk replacer is another choice for orphaned kids and lambs. This method is more labor-intensive because many errors can occur during reconstitution. When using milk replacer, carefully follow the directions when mixing (life-threatening conditions could occur if using inappropriate temperatures when mixing/feeding or incorrect water/powder amounts). When selecting a milk replacer, it is best to choose a species-specific replacer. Whole cow’s milk is another option and can be purchased from the store or obtained as waste milk from a dairy farm. Unfortunately, cow’s milk lacks the fat content required by small ruminants, especially lambs.