Lamb Loss and

Artificial Rearing

1.State of the Problem

Background:

Indoor, intensive, accelerated lambing

system

Breeds: Suffolk, Commercial and Dorset

Commercial flock: 3-way crosses

produced from a Rambouillet, Suffolk
and Dorset crossbreeding plan.

Lamb loss and artificial rearing

winter birth period

Problems?
Artificial rearing
20 lambs in total
Actually a solution, but:
Milk replacer: -$$
Labor
Rejection

Starvation and exposure

Improvement in installations

Problems?
Suffolk ewes
Trauma losses
Lose more lambs overall

Dystocia
Biggest common loss cause
Lamb weight?

Assuming one lamb as worth in average $ 157, 15 (Slaughter lambs

90-115 lbs ) a total loss of $ 5028, 8 occurred for that season.

2.Improvement Strategies
3 approaches for improvement

Grafting

Barn
Building

Selection*

2.1 Grafting
Also known as Fostering
Match the number of lambs with the total
amount of milk produced by all lactating ewes.
Avoid artificial rearing

Avoid the waste of milk

Grafting: step by step

Predict Milk Yield
Assess lamb milk demand
Assess lamb vigor
Enhance maternal bond
Prevent lamb rejection

2.2 Barn
Exposure is one the biggest sources of loss
Indoor birthing systemmodify the barns with better
insulation and ventilating systems

Maternal bonding factor

Feed and water are very important as well.

A barn project - 16X24, GABLEROOF W/TIED RFTRS, VENT DOORS

2.3 Selection
Suffolk ewes: smaller % of the flock
Heritability for bith weight: 15%
Prolificity of the ewes : lamb
weight
o Rate of survival:
However... of lamb weight can
occurrence of dystocia, which is also
an issue at the MSU sheep farm.

3. Cost Benefit Analysis

Out of 279 lambs on the analyzed

period, a total of 247 remained alive.

8% were artificially reared. Artificial

rearing is expensive in terms of milk
replacer and management time.

Cost Benefit Analysis - Replacer

20 lambs to feed
6*20= 120 feedings(30*1d)
5*20=100 (25*3d)
Ex. Sav-A-Lam milk replacer costs $61.95 for 254*20=80
lbs. (45*10d)
4 oz (0.25 lbs) is needed for one preparation (1 pint,
or 2(40*16d)
cups) one
3*20=60
2*20= 40 (1*1d)
100 preparations.
Total=1235 p

bag is worth

1 bag 100
X bags 1235
X= 12.35 13
$805.35

Grafting is a time and money saving alternative.

Cost benefit- Barn

Building a barn: Cost of ~ $
3.504,
excluding labor

384 square feet, roughly~ $10.000

including all costs.

Again, assuming 1 lamb= $ 157,

15 and a total loss of $ 5028, 8

2 years pay the barn investment.

4. Summary
Reducing artificial rearing with grafting will reduce labor and
investment on milk replacer;
A well-constructed barn is a high investment initially, but housing
and management are proven to be critical for lamb survival~ can
pay itself in up to 2 years;
Maintain less Suffolk ewes in the flock if focus is on lamb survival
A selection program is important to balance lamb weight and
avoid dystocia

Thank you! Questions?

Reference

List

Ehrhardt, R. Interview: http://www.todaysfarmer.ca/2010/11/25/critical-control-points-for-lamb-survival

Iowa State University Extension - Ag Decision Maker, Historic Hog and Lamb Prices https://www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm/livestock/pdf/b210.pdf
North Dakota State University Extension Building Plans - http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/extension-aben/buildingplans/sheep. Referenced plan in
bigger view: http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/aben-plans/5019.pdf
Fisher, M. - Lambing management in New Zealand: ethics and welfare considerations. Surveillance 28(3) 2001. New Zealand.
Ehrhardt, R. Critical Points for Lamb Survival, Optimizing indoor lambing management and Grafting lambs: an opportunity to increase flock
productivity
Neary, M. - Increasing Lamb Survival. The Shepherd in 1996, Vol. 41:12: http://ag.ansc.purdue.edu/sheep/articles/incrlamb.html
Life time wool website: http://www.lifetimewool.com.au/Ewe%20Management/lambsurv.aspx
Valley vet - Milk replacer price reference: https://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html
Barn price estimative - http://www.fixr.com/costs/build-barn
http://aces.nmsu.edu/sheep/selection_breeding/selection_breeding.html