How to Improve Weight Gain in Growing Lambs
Watch for lambs that look small for their age, have a rough or dull coat, a pot belly or a sunken, hollow look, pale eyelids, scouring, persistent coughing, lameness, a hunched posture, or lag behind the group. Check for weight loss or flat growth between weighings. A lamb that stops gaining is telling you something is wrong with feed, health, stress or milk supply. Investigate quickly.
What I would do differently if I were starting again today
I would buy a scale before I bought anything else. I would weigh every lamb at birth and every few weeks after, and I would act on the numbers instead of my impressions. I would build a creep feeder before the first lambs arrived, and I would plan weaning like an event, not an afterthought. I would keep my best pasture for the lambs, test my worm control, and group the lambs by size. And I would keep a notebook, so each season’s results made the next season better.
Lambs reward the farmers who pay attention early. The ones who track their growth, feed them well and protect their health are rarely surprised at sale time.
FAQ
How fast should lambs gain weight?
It depends on the breed, feed and management. Fast-growing meat breeds on good feed may gain over 250 grams a day, while many tropical and hair breeds on pasture gain around 100 to 200 grams a day. Set targets for your own breed and system, and track actual gains.
When should I start creep feeding lambs?
Usually from about two weeks of age. Place a lamb-only feeder where lambs gather, use a palatable balanced feed, and keep it fresh. Creep feeding helps most with twins, triplets and when pasture is poor.
What is the best age to wean lambs?
It depends on your system, but many farmers wean at around two to four months, when lambs are eating solid feed well and have reached a suitable weight. Weaning too early without proper feeding can stall growth.
Why are some of my lambs growing slower than others?
Common reasons include twin or triplet birth with limited milk, worm burdens, illness, competition at feeders, poor genetics and poor quality feed. Weighing individual lambs helps identify the cause.
Does worming improve lamb growth?
Controlling parasites does, especially when lambs are heavily infected. Test and treat only the lambs that need it, use effective products dosed accurately, and combine treatment with clean pasture and good nutrition.
