An udder from another mother: Bottle feeding small ruminants

By Emily Nogay, VMD, MS

Raising babies is no joke. Whether that be human or animal, it can be exhausting, scary, and overwhelming. To make matters even worse, those first few months of life are incredibly important for setting them up for success later in life. Small ruminants are no different, and finding the correct information on how to successfully raise them can be difficult. Don’t forget that there may be information out there, but that doesn’t make it good information. Always be sure to consult your veterinarian to further understand what works and what doesn’t for your situation.

In the first few days of life, kids and lambs should be given colostrum directly from the dam. This is the first milk from the dam, which appears more golden in color and thicker than regular milk. Colostrum carries important antibodies, micronutrients, and active enzymes from the dam and transfers them to the kid or lamb, who can absorb those antibodies within the first 24 hours of life. Ideally, babies receive their first dose of colostrum within the first 4 hours of life for adequate transfer. This feeding sets the animal’s immune system up for its first few months of life.

If colostrum from the dam cannot be fed, it is best to feed colostrum from another doe or ewe, ideally one from the same farm (milking colostrum from does and ewes with excess and freezing it for future use is helpful). If feeding frozen colostrum, slowly warm it in a warm water bath. Do not place colostrum in the microwave or at water temperatures above 120° F, as it can begin to destroy antibodies and enzymes.

If true colostrum is not available, sheep and goat colostrum replacers are the last option. Be aware of the distinction between a colostrum replacer and a colostrum supplement. Supplements do not contain enough antibodies to be used alone and will fail passive transfer (inadequate immunity due to poor colostrum). Colostrum can be continued for the first two to three days of life. After 24 hours, they cannot absorb the antibodies; however, it is also a good source of vitamin A, energy, and protein.

After colostrum, the best milk to feed is directly from the dam. If milk from the dam is not an option, previously frozen milk from other does or ewes is best. Milk replacer is another choice for orphaned kids and lambs. This method is more labor-intensive because many errors can occur during reconstitution. When using milk replacer, carefully follow the directions when mixing (life-threatening conditions could occur if using inappropriate temperatures when mixing/feeding or incorrect water/powder amounts). When selecting a milk replacer, it is best to choose a species-specific replacer. Whole cow’s milk is another option and can be purchased from the store or obtained as waste milk from a dairy farm. Unfortunately, cow’s milk lacks the fat content required by small ruminants, especially lambs. Some people recommend adding other products to cow’s milk to compensate for this difference; however, this can disrupt the milk’s total solids and lead to severe gastrointestinal upset. Another great option for feeding orphaned small ruminants is condensed goat milk, which can be found in some grocery stores or online. This is a more expensive option; however, it is easier to mix and is closest to the real thing if milk from the dam or another member of the herd is not available.

The most common nipple is the Pritchard teat, which was designed for small ruminants. This nipple can be attached to a soda bottle or another store-bought bottle. These nipples do need to be cut for milk to flow, which, if done incorrectly, will cause too fast a flow, putting the animal at risk of aspiration and pneumonia. Always begin with a very small cut to the end of the nipple for a slow flow. Alternatively, the tip can be slit to form an “X,” allowing the end to seal if the lamb or kid is not actively nursing. The nipple should not passively spray or stream milk when the bottle is turned upside down. Human baby bottle nipples may also be used and are sometimes preferred for some newborns. These nipples will have a slower milk flow and do not need to be cut prior to use.

If feeding many babies, bottle racks or bucket feeders can be utilized. Bucket feeders have nipples on the sides of a bucket, allowing multiple animals to feed from a single bucket. Pan feeding or using a pan or bucket without a nipple is not recommended. This eliminates the use of the suckling reflex and allows milk to enter the rumen rather than go straight into the abomasum (true stomach), leading to milk fermentation and poor growth.

No matter which method is used for feeding, the cleanliness of all tools is essential. Mixing utensils, bottles, and nipples should be thoroughly cleaned after each use with a scrub brush, soap, and water. The use of a dishwasher and/or a disinfectant is also recommended. Once rinsed, it is important to allow everything to dry completely. A general rule for washing milk feeding equipment is 1) Warm water rinse, 2) Hot water wash with detergent (140-160°F), 3) Warm rinse, 4) Cool sanitizer rinse (i.e., rinse with 1% bleach solution), and air dry. Also, remember to frequently check nipples and ensure there is no damage, especially to the rubber.

Now that we have discussed what to feed and how to properly administer it, we need to know how often to feed and how much. For the first day of life, kids and lambs should be fed colostrum every 2 hours. After the first day, feedings can be decreased to six meals per day (every four hours) until they are 1 week old. From 2 to 4 weeks of age, babies should receive four meals per day (every six hours). Kids and lambs older than 4 weeks can be reduced to 3 bottles per day (every eight hours). After two months, most kids and lambs are of sufficient size and eating enough solid foods to begin the weaning process.

Small ruminant babies should be fed 15-20% of their body weight in milk per day, divided into multiple meals (the same amount applies to colostrum). Feeding under 15% can lead to inappropriate growth; however, feeding over 20% can lead to overeating diseases. It is normal for bottle babies to always act hungry, even when being fed at 20% of their weight per day. Milk should be fed at 102-105°F. Be sure to heat slowly over the stove or in hot water if reheating (a microwave can lead to overheating and uneven temperature distribution).

Milk should be maxed out once a volume of 16 ounces per feeding is reached (this may be more or less, depending on the animal’s body type). This will encourage the kids or lambs to increase their intake of grain and hay in preparation for weaning. Water should be made available at 1 week of age, ensuring that buckets aren’t filled too high. At two weeks of age, kids and lambs will start to nibble on solid feeds. A starter/creep feed (textured high protein grain) should be made available at this time. At 3 weeks of age, hay can be offered, and the kids or lambs should be eating the starter feed more consistently.

Once babies are two months old, they should be ready for weaning. It is important that they have reached 2.5 times their birth weight and are eating enough grain and hay prior to weaning. Weaning can be done abruptly or gradually over a certain timeframe. The less abrupt the weaning, the less stressful the weaning process becomes. Abrupt weaning can be done successfully if the animal is consuming plenty of grain and hay. It is important to remember that weaning is the most stressful time of their life. Other stressful events, such as traveling or vaccines, should be avoided at this time. Hay should be available free choice at the time of weaning and for 2 weeks post-weaning.