Producer Resources
These easy‑to‑use infographics cover practical, timely topics for sheep producers. They are for educational use only; always consult your veterinarian for animal health and treatment decisions. Product or trade name mentions are not endorsements. Click an infographic below to view the full PDF.
The table in the infographic includes holidays that the American sheep industry associates with an increased demand for lamb for holiday observers. These holidays span multiple religions, and include Festive of the Nativity, Chinese New Year, Beginning of Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr, Pesach, Easter, Eid al-Adha, Muharram, Mawlid al-Nabi, Rosh Hashanah, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and Christmas.
Key recommendations
• Provide draft-free, warmer housing and limit crowding at feed bunks.
• Separate slow and thin ewes to target nutrition effectively.
• Slowly step up concentrates in rations and feed high-quality hays and avoid bulky
hays with high NDF.
• To supply ~25% more energy in cold conditions, feed 0.94 lb corn; 0.90 lb DDGS;
1.05 lb soybean hulls; or 1.44 lb alfalfa hay.
• Warm housing management: Keep pens dry and well bedded; plastic door curtains help
reduce heat loss; maintain clean, fresh water, and provide outdoor windbreaks.
The Importance of Colostrum
• Colostrum is the first milk produced by the ewe
• Colostrum is produced during the final weeks of pregnancy
• Colostrum is thicker and more yellow than regular milk and is rich in fat, protein,
vitamins, and gut health promoters
• Colostrum is the only source of antibodies for newborn lambs
Why Colostrum Is Critical
• Lambs are born without a mature immune system
• Immunity does not transfer during pregnancy
• Antibodies from colostrum protect lambs early in life
• Inadequate intake can cause lifelong health problems
Colostrum Intake Requirements
• Lambs should consume about 15% of birth weight
• Intake should occur within the first 18 hours of life
• Do not exceed 6–8 fluid ounces per feeding
Timing of Feeding
• Highest antibody absorption occurs in first 8 hours
• By 12 hours, absorption drops to about 10%
• By 24 hours, antibodies can no longer be absorbed
Colostrum Sources
• Fresh ewe colostrum is preferred
• Fresh or frozen ewe, cow, or goat colostrum is acceptable
• Use lamb-specific colostrum replacers when needed
Nutrition
• Lactation is the most energy and protein-demanding stage, and rations tend to be
costlier due to dense ingredients.
• Keep a narrow age range in pens; start a dry down ration when the youngest lamb
is ~30 days old.
Ewe Health
• Mastitis is the primary concern: watch for inflamed, warm udders and abnormal milk;
prevention is sanitation; treatment may combine a broad-spectrum antibiotic and an
anti-inflammatory - work under veterinary guidance.
Lamb Health
• Observe lambs for any health concerns.
• Most commonly observed health concerns in newborn and young lambs include hypothermia,
starvation, pneumonia, navel ill, and coccidiosis.
Nutrition & Feeding
• Provide balanced diets for rams, ewes, and lambs; ensure continuous access to clean,
fresh water; avoid abrupt ration changes.
Housing & Environment
• Keep pens dry, clean, and well bedded; provide shelter from heat, cold, and wind;
maintain ventilation; ensure adequate space in pens and at bunks.
Health & Disease Prevention
• Observe animals frequently; work with a veterinarian on vaccinations, parasite control,
hoof care, disease treatment, and pain management; use antibiotics/dewormers responsibly.
Behavior & Handling
• Allow social interaction; minimize stress during handling/transport; use sheep-appropriate
facilities and trained handlers to protect animals and people.
Lamb Survival
• Ensure timely, adequate high-quality colostrum intake (first ~18 hours), protect
newborns from cold/drafts, and provide early access to creep feed and water.
Animal treatments & medications (use under VCPR)
• Antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, coccidiostats, energy sources, electrolytes, and
vaccines.
Ewe & lamb health tools
• Digital thermometer, prolapse retainer/harness, lamb puller, needles/syringes, umbilical
tape, drench gun, saline, lubricant, nasal aspirator, lamb coats/blankets, entropion
clip.
Artificial rearing supplies
• Colostrum replacer/frozen colostrum, milk replacer, whisk/measure, lamb saver tube,
feeding tube, bottles/buckets/nipples, cleaning/disinfection supplies, spare parts
for milk machine.
Facilities & barn equipment
• Barn lime, head catch/halter, heat lamps/warming box, pitchforks/shovels/brooms,
wheeled cart.
Miscellaneous & records
• Latex/OB gloves, boots, coveralls, animal ID & records, sanitation supplies, lamb
processing tools, emergency contact list, flashlights.
Nutrition
• Late gestation requires higher energy and protein than early gestation.
• Fetal growth restricts rumen capacity, and feed consumption is reduced - avoid feeding
bulky feeds.
• Calcium: alfalfa/alfalfa grass hay is typically adequate; supplement Ca if no alfalfa
is included.
Body condition
• Target BCS 3.0–3.5 during late gestation.
• A ewe should maintain some fat cover with smooth ribs (but still felt) at this body
condition score.
Ewe health & management
• Maintain biosecurity.
• Avoid feeding ewes on the ground to reduce disease risk.
• Reduce crowding and separate slow or thin ewes.
Shearing
• Shear 3–6 weeks before lambing.
• Post shearing: keep ewes dry in a draft-free, well-bedded barn or lot.
Importance of Colostrum
• Lambs must consume about 15% of their birth weight in high-quality colostrum within
18 hours
• Colostrum provides antibodies, fat, protein, and gut health promoters
• Fresh colostrum is preferred; lamb-specific substitutes may be used
Selecting and Managing Lambs
• Prioritize lambs that drink well from a bottle for artificial rearing
• Consider odd-sized lambs and ewe lambs
• Observe lambs every 4–6 hours
Housing and Feeding
• One nipple per four lambs
• Keep pens clean, dry, warm (about 40°F), and well-lit
• Use lamb-specific milk replacer
• Provide creep feed and water early
Health and Weaning
• Watch for starvation, hypothermia, scours, pneumonia, bloat, and navel infections
• Limit age spread per pen to less than 10 days
• Wean at four weeks or three times birth weight, and consume creep feed
To improve lamb feed efficiency, focus on optimizing the feeding environment and overall flock management.
Key practices include:
• Improve ventilation by opening doors and windows and turning on fans.
• Maintain good lighting, especially above feeders, to encourage feeding.
• Keep feed fresh and avoid letting feeders run empty.
• Provide clean, accessible water by routinely cleaning waterers and offering multiple
water sources.
• Maintain pen hygiene by keeping bedding dry and removing manure regularly.
• Manage lambs by weight and health, and shear lambs when they reach 80–100 pounds.
Implementing these practices helps promote better intake, healthier lambs, and more efficient feed use.
When to Wean Lambs
• Target weaning when the youngest lamb is at least 42 days old
• Lambs should consume more than 1 pound of creep feed daily
Dry-Down Nutrition for Ewes
• Reduce protein and energy using lower-quality forage and less grain
• Feed dry-down rations 10–14 days before and after weaning
• Severely restrict intake if udders are not shrinking
Managing Stress at Weaning
• Leave lambs in familiar pens and remove ewes
• Keep pens dry and well-bedded
• Record weaning weights for selection and culling decisions
Lamb Health at Weaning
• Transition lambs to grower rations before weaning
• Provide hay or sodium bicarbonate
• Observe lambs frequently for health issues
Ewe and Yearling Management
• Monitor udders for mastitis
• Separate thin ewes and improve nutrition
• Push yearling ewes after weaning to return to body condition score 2.5–3.0
