LAMB viability and survival rates in outdoor lambing flocks will be significantly impacted by the quantity and quality of ewes’ colostrum, irrespective of the wider seasonal management factors such as shepherding, mob size, shelter and available grazing.

So says Rumenco Technical Services Manager Dr Alison Bond, who points to pre-lambing nutrition as the key to ensuring ewes are equipped to provide their lambs with the best possible start in the critical hours and days after lambing.

“We’re seeing a trend towards outdoor lambing in some areas, with a shift to later, easier lambing genetics,” she says, “and this can be an effective way to reduce infrastructure, labour and feed costs.

“There are some important seasonal management factors, such as resting winter pastures to ensure adequate grazing and optimising mob size to minimise issues such as mis-mothering, but the first consideration must be colostrum.

“Ensuring ewes receive the right balanced nutrition in the lead up to lambing is vital, and in many cases this will mean supplementing the ration to provide the energy and protein to support lamb development as well as colostrum and milk production.

“There can never be any guarantees as to what the weather will do, so getting ewes in the best condition to supply ample high quality colostrum should be a priority in the weeks before lambing.”

Dr Bond advises feeding a specialist pre-lambing supplement such as Lifeline Lamb and Ewe buckets or blocks in the six weeks prior to lambing. In addition to supplementing protein and energy requirements, this can also help with forage utilisation, preventing loss of body condition.

“Lifeline Lamb and Ewe is a multi-purpose supplement that will also provide other essential nutrients like minerals, vitamins and trace elements,” she adds. “It also contains a blend of functional nutrients, including lactose, mannan-oligosaccharides and beta-glucans, which independent research has shown will support a ewe’s immune function and enhance colostrum immunoglobulin content by up to 25%.

“When outdoor lambing is underway, there will be factors like the weather that cannot be controlled, but knowing that ewes have had the right preparation, not least in terms of nutrition, should be a great reassurance and help keep losses to a minimum.”

Harper Adams study shows strong growth rates and smooth weaning at 35 days

A TRIAL carried out in 2025 at Harper Adams University has found that surplus lambs can achieve strong daily growth rates when fed milk replacer mixed and delivered cold from eight days of age.

The study, using Lamlac ewe milk replacer, recorded an average weaning weight of 15kg at 35 days of age. Individual lamb weights ranged from 10kg to 19kg, while average daily liveweight gain up to weaning reached 332g per day.

Dr Jessica Cooke, speaking on behalf of Lamlac, said feeding ewe milk replacer cold should be considered a proven and practical technique for producers managing surplus lambs during busy lambing periods.

“Feeding cold milk provides a simple, time-efficient and practical method of rearing surplus lambs on farm, particularly where warm water is not readily available or when lambs of different ages require milk at a consistent temperature,” she said.

“With good attention to detail and suitable environmental conditions, lambs can successfully maintain strong daily growth rates when reared on Lamlac mixed and fed cold from week one. It also reduces labour input compared with preparing and feeding warm milk.”

Colostrum and early management

The trial involved twenty-three Lleyn x Aberblack/Charolais lambs. All were left with the ewe for twenty-four hours to receive colostrum naturally, or were fed colostrum artificially where required.

After the first day, lambs were placed in a training pen and fed warm Lamlac ad-libitum through an Ewe-2 feeder. The milk replacer was mixed at a rate of 200g powder to 800ml of water.

From day eight, lambs were moved to a larger pen where Lamlac was mixed and delivered cold at 10°C using two Ewe-2 feeders.

Fresh creep feed and straw were introduced from day seven to support rumen development and help minimise digestive upset around weaning.

Weaning targets met

Lambs were weaned abruptly at 35 days of age. The target was a minimum bodyweight of 10kg and a daily intake of 250g of solid feed.

Dr Cooke said the findings demonstrate the flexibility available to producers.

“After following recommended rearing practices during the first week of life, feeding lambs cold ad-lib milk offers a straightforward, practical and highly cost-effective method of rearing surplus offspring, particularly where warm water or additional labour are limited.

“However, it is vital that producers use a high-quality milk replacer to ensure good mixing quality and avoid potential problems.”

The trial results suggest cold milk feeding can provide an effective and labour-saving alternative for sheep farmers seeking consistent growth performance in surplus lambs.

PLANS for new livestock buildings at a Pembrokeshire dairy farm, aimed at “improved animal husbandry” will not lead to an increase in herd size, councillors heard.

In an application recommended for approval at the February meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning committee, Mr Roblin of Clynderwen Farm, Clunderwen, sought permission for two livestock building at the 210-hectare dairy farm of 280 cows and 235 head of young stock.

A report for members said each livestock accommodation building would have a length of 77 m, a width of 33m, an eaves height of 3.6m and a ridge height of 8.9m.

Both buildings would be parallel to each other and would cover a footprint of 5,082sqm (2,541sqm each). The proposal includes a total of 308 cubicles, loafing and feed areas, with a central feed passage in the middle.

It said the buildings at the site, some 200 metres from the nearby Redhill school and just over a kilometre from Clunderwen, would sit a little lower than those already on site, and the proposals would not lead to any increase in herd size.

Speaking at the meeting, agent Gethin Beynon said the scheme would lead to “improved animal husbandry to serve the existing milking herd and to support the next farming generation”.

He told members the application was accompanied by environmental enhancements and screening, with no objections from members of the public or any statutory bodies.

Mr Beynon went on to say the herd was currently housed in historic farm site buildings that “fall short of current standards,” with a farm move towards Holstein cattle which need more space.

“It will improve animal husbandry and efficiencies in what is currently a challenging market,” he concluded.

Approval was moved by Cllr Alan Dennison, seconded by Cllr Brian Hall, and unanimously backed by committee members.