Feeding of preweaned lambs for birth to 90 days of age
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FEEDING OF PREWEANED LAMBS FROM BIRTH TO 90 DAYS OF AGE
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The development of lambs in the first four months is faster than the kids.
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Doubling or tripling of the birth weights is reached much earlier in lambs than by kids.
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The most critical period in the life of a lamb is during first 48 hours. If a lamb is unable to nurse within half an hour after birth, it should be assisted to suckle to get the advantage of colostrum.
Creep feeding
Creep mixtures
Ingredients
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I
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II
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III
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Maize flour
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67
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50
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30
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Barley flour
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-
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17
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-
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Oat flour
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-
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-
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37
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Groundnut cake
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10
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10
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10
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Wheat bran
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10
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10
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-
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Rice polish
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-
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-
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10
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Fish meal
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10
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10
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-
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Meat meal
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-
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-
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10
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Mineral mixture
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2
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2
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2
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Sodium chloride
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1
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1
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1
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Along with creep mixture, adequate amount of Vit A supplement should be given. At 90 days of age, about 300 g of creep mixture is consumed by a lamb.
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After the development of rumen, good quality leguminous fodder/hays, may be given.
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The lambs should be allowed to suckle the dam twice daily and kept separately where creep mixture, roughage, mineral mixture and water are available at free choice.
Feeding of lambs from 10th day till weaning
Feeding schedule
Body weight (kg)
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Concentrate mixture (g/day)
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Roughage* (g /day)
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Remarks
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12 -15
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200
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400
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8 hours grazing can be substituted in place of roughages
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16 -25
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250
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600
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8 hours grazing can be substituted in place of roughages
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26 -35
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300
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700
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8 hours grazing can be substituted in place of roughages
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- Grasses such as Cenchrus species, Legumes pastures such as Stylo, Sirato, Groundnut haulms, grass and legume mixture may also be given.
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It is better to keep the lambs in the stall for mutton production specially in the monsoon period because the animals do not relish to graze the wet grasses and are also prone to diseases. Free choice mineral blocks are to be provided in the sheds. Cross bred sheep attain 30 kg body weight by 6 months of age,while native breeds may take 9 months.
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Last modified: Saturday, 31 March 2012, 7:34 AM