B520
Management of Lambs and Kids -
Colostrum and Nursing

Introduction: Colostrum is the first milk provided by the dam to her offspring. It is critical not only for the animal’s basic nutritional needs, but also for the newborn to be able to survive the multitude of environmental factors that may cause its death. Colostrum is rich in energy and protein. It has a mild laxative effect that helps to move the fetal feces (meconium) and to prevent the formation of a hard, rubbery, clot-like blockage of milk in the stomach. Colostrum also carries disease-fighting antibodies produced by the mother. These antibodies give the lamb/kid short-term protection against infections until the newborn is able to build up its own resistance.

Colostrum provides three essential things for the newborn:
  1. Nutrition
  2. A laxative
  3. Antibodies and passive immunity

Nutritional Value: Its nutritional value is unique, providing a wealth of proteins and energy that help the newborn’s physiological processes to begin functioning on their own.

Laxative Properties: The moving of food digestive end-products through the newborn is a tough proposition. Intestinal motility is a critical action that must take place for life to go beyond the first hours following birth. The first intestinal product to exit the gastro-intestinal tract of the newborn is called meconium. Meconium is very thick, sticky, and difficult to expel. It is not uncommon for the early digestive end-products to become lodged or non-motile in the newborn. This can cause serious side-effects and even death.

Another common ailment caused by the thick meconium is called "pinning." Pinning is where sticky fecal material does not leave the anal opening and sticks to the outside part of the anus. In lambs it also causes the tail to adhere to the fecal material. The tail often becomes pinned (or stuck) to the anus. This can become a serious health problem if not attended to by the producer. Colostrum contains unique and key ingredients that accelerate and enhance intestinal motility and reduce the likelihood of constipation in newborns.

Antibody Properties & Passive Immunity: Colostrum contains the maternal antibodies essential for disease prevention in the newborn. The mother, if properly vaccinated prior to giving birth, should naturally produce these antibodies and will pass them to the baby in the colostrum. Antibodies are the immune system components that identify a viral or bacterial invader and fight off the infection. Protection passed from the mother to baby through colostrum is called passive transfer. Failure of passive transfer will lead to sickness, poor weight gain, and possible death.

It is important that the source of the colostrum be from a ewe or doe that has been exposed to the common infectious agents (viruses and bacteria) that are present in the environment. It is also important that the ewe or doe be vaccinated for the common diseases found in the area. These two things will allow the immune system of the mother to produce antibodies to the common infectious agents and then pass these antibodies on to the baby in the milk. In the ideal situation, the mother will produce plenty of colostrum, with plenty of antibodies. The lamb or kid will consume adequate amounts of this colostrum and receive protection from bacterial and viral infections. However, this is often not possible due to many different factors such as the death of a ewe or doe, or the mother rejecting the baby. In these circumstances, getting colostrum to the baby, even if it is not from its mother, is critical. It is a good idea to have a supply of frozen colostrum stored for these unplanned emergencies.

Each newborn should have its first suckle within 30 minutes post-partum, and no later than 12 hours post-partum. After 12 hours, the stomach of the lamb/kid changes and allows less and less antibody absorption. The newborn should consume at least 25 mLs of colostrum per pound of body weight at three different times in the first day of life.

General suggestions for proper colostrum production and management:
  1. Vaccination Programs:
    1. It is essential that a proper and up-to-date vaccination program be established for each flock/herd. This schedule, developed for each flock/herd and the problems encountered, should be under the direction of a veterinarian. See the vaccination schedule on page B905 for suggestions.
    2. Colostrum will not likely contain adequate antibodies to provide sufficient protection if there has not been a previous vaccination program implemented in the mother animals.

    2.
  2. Measuring Antibodies in the Colostrum and the Newborn:
    1. There are various tests that can be used to determine the amount of antibodies that are present in a colostrum sample and also in a newborn. Many of these tests can be acquired through a local veterinarian.

    3.
  3. Storing and Using the Colostrum:
    1. Store collected colostrum in small, clean, sanitized containers in the freezer. Colostrum should keep for at least 6 months without deteriorating. This will allow a producer to accumulate a "bank" of colostrum that will last right through the entire lambing/kidding season.
    2. To prevent the destruction of the vital antibodies, carefully thaw frozen colostrum in a lukewarm water bath no hotter than 104°F (40°C). Because it can damage the antibodies in the colostrum, do not thaw frozen colostrum in a microwave oven!
    3. Cow colostrum can be used if ewe or goat colostrum is not available. It can also be stored frozen until needed. However, because antibodies are dam (mother) specific, do not expect the same level of disease protection that is found when using the birth mother’s own colostrum.
    4. In an emergency when there is no available colostrum, the following artificial mixture can be used as a substitute for the first day’s feeding:
      • One quart of fresh raw cow’s milk.
      • One beaten egg.
      • Two teaspoons of glucose or lactose (if unavailable, use sugar).
      • One teaspoon of cod liver oil (or castor) oil.
      Shake this artificial mixture well, and divide it into four equal feedings for the first day’s feeding. If the lamb/kid is small or weak, divide it into six equal feedings instead of four. Realize, however, that this mixture will not provide the newborn with the necessary antibodies.
    5. Never use colostrum from ewes/does that are sick or known to be infected with any organism. Many of these problems can be passed to the lamb or kid in the milk. If diseases like Johnes and CAE are a concern, many producers will heat treat the colostrum before it is fed. To heat treat colostrum, a double boiler system should be used. Slowly, bring the desired amount of colostrum to 135° F, stirring constantly. Then place it directly into a hot insulated thermos and leave it for 1 hour. It is important that the thermos is heated before hand and that it remains warm for the entire hour. Placing boiling water in the thermos and then dumping it out before colostrum is put in is a great way to heat it.

  4. Feeding the Colostrum: If a lamb or kid does not nurse normally after delivery or if it is taken from the mother at birth, hand feeding colostrum will be necessary.
    1. If a freshened ewe/doe (preferably the mother) is available, milk out one side by hand and give the lamb/kid at least 100-200 mLs (3-6 oz.) of the colostrum. This procedure should be repeated at least three times in the first 24 hours. A coarse (large) "eye dropper," a plastic pop bottle with attached teat, or teaspoon can be used to feed the newborn. If a fresh ewe/doe is not available, use frozen colostrum from a "colostrum bank."
    2. If a ewe/doe that has recently given birth is available, the lamb/kid can be suckled on one side without affecting the survival of her natural offspring.
    3. The weaker and lethargic the lamb/kid, the more assistance the producer will have to provide. Stomach tubes or esophageal tubes are sometimes used in these situations. Care must be taken to prevent the tube from going down the trachea and potentially placing the milk in the lungs. See page C854 for additional help on safely using esophageal/stomach tubes.

What are Possible Reasons for Non-nursing Animals?

Maternal Causes:
  1. Unshorn or uncrutched ewes- Lamb fails to find and locate the teat.
  2. Lack of maternal instincts - Mother fails to permit the newborn(s) to nurse.
  3. Lack of milk - Ewe/doe may be nutritionally deficient during gestation or hormonally unbalanced.
  4. Mastitis (mammary gland infection) or chronic problem from previous mastitis.
  5. Teats occluded (plugged) - Most mothers have a waxy plug in the end of the teat canal that must be stripped out prior to the newborn nursing. This is accomplished by forcing a small squirt of milk from each teat. Some small or weak newborns lack the suckling strength necessary to remove this waxy plug. Plugged teats can also be caused by trauma (shearing cuts) that forms adhesions or scar tissue in the teat or canal. Some animals just naturally have this type of defect.
  6. Mother confined to lambing jug/jail or pen.
  7. Mother may become separated from newborn(s) - This often occurs with the second baby of a set of twins. The "first-born" is able to move about with the mother, while the "second-born" is often left lying. The mother may wander off or just pay too much attention to the first-born and neglect to care for the second baby.

Fetal Causes:
  1. Failure of the newborn to find the udder and teat.
  2. Inability of newborn to remove wax teat plug.
  3. Inability to suck:
    • Edema (swelling) of head and/or tongue, possibly due to a difficult birth.
    • Possible fracture of the jaw, due to a difficult birth or injury.
    • Cleft-palate.
  4. Dummies (animals that do not act bright, alert, and responsive):
    • Caused by defects and abnormalities in the central nervous system.
    • Some of these defects are hereditary.
    • Other defects are due to the ingestion of toxic substances by the mother during pregnancy such as false hellebore (skunk cabbage).