Lamb Rearing Systems

Check out our special section Focus On: The 12 Hour Suckling System for more information on a lamb rearing system that many DSANA members are now employing on their farms. Broken link? Something out of place? Please email hello@dsana.com for assistance!

• Raising Dairy Ewe Lambs from First Breeding to Freshening - VIDEO - 2022- Andrea Mongini, M&M Veterinary Practice and Ewetopia Dairy.  A talk about Good Management Practices for replacement ewe lambs and a little bit about replacement ram lambs.

• Raising Dairy Replacement Ewe Lambs - VIDEO - January 2022, Dr. Andrea Mongini, Ewetopia Dairy and M&M Veterinary Practice. Dr. Mongini will give us some guidance on raising dairy replacements from weaning through first parturition.

• The Lamb Weaning System at Lark’s Meadow Farms – 2019 – Kendall Russell, Lark’s Meadow Farms.  A presentation on how Lark’s Meadow Farms rears and weans their dairy lambs.  It gives comparative results between three different rearing methods tried: lambs on their mothers, lambs 10 hours with mothers and 14 hours separated, and milk bar lambs.

• Using a 12-hour Suckling System in the 1st 30 Days of Lactation – 2019 – Quincy Wool Parker, Meadowood Farms Manager.  A presentation on how Meadowood Farm adapted a 12-hour suckling system of leaving lambs partially on their dams and how it has worked for them.

• Experience with Rearing Lambs that Do Not Nurse a Ewe -2015. Russell L. Burgett. An overview of the benefits of rearing lambs in an artificial system starting immediately after birth.

• Best Practices for Raising Lambs on Milk Replacer -2015. Tom Earleywine. Guidelines for raising bottle lambs including colostrum feeding, care of newborns, choosing a milk replacer & feeding system, ensuring proper rumen development and successful weaning.

• Managing Lambs on Milk Replacer – Challenges of Nutrition, Environment and Disease – 2013 – Rex G. Crawford DVM.  A presentation on the challenges of raising lambs on milk replacer as opposed to nursing, particularly in northern climates.  It discusses methods for meeting nutritional needs in systems with too many lambs to bottle feed, thoughts for setting up lamb housing, and disease management.

• Unlocking the Key to Successful Lamb Feeding Program – 2013 – Megan Van Schaik.  A presentation on lamb physiology and feeding management, including potential feeding issues in lambs, ways to feed lambs, and how much they need, as well as information on milk replacer formulation.

• Keys to Successfully Raising Lambs on Milk Replacer- 2012 - Larry Van Roekel, Land O’Lakes Animal Milk Products Company. A guide on feeding colostrum to lambs, choosing the right milk replacer, feeding methods for milk replacer, & weaning tips.

• FEEDING AND MANAGEMENT OF YOUNG LAMBS - 2010 - Robin R. Rastani, Ph.D., PAS, Milk Specialties Global Animal Nutrition. Introduction to needs of lambs at birth, including colostrum requirements

• SHEEP MILK PRODUCTION INCLUDING 30-DAY WEANING SYSTEM - 2010 - Brad and Meg Gregory, Black Sheep Creamery

• EFFECTS OF PREPUBERTAL GROWTH RATE OF EWE LAMBS ON THEIR SUBSEQUENT LAMB AND MILK PRODUCTION - 2009 - David L. Thomas and Yves M. Berger, University of Wisconsin-Madison. The objective of this study was to estimate the effects of growth rate of dairy ewe lambs on their lamb and milk production as adult ewes.

• REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS FOR MILK YIELD AND PRICE OF MILK - 2007 - Yves BergerSpooner,  Ag. Research Station, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Spooner, Wisconsin, USA. A discussion on how ewe age, lamb management and supplementation can affect milk yield and price  

• SHEEP BEHAVIOR AND ITS USE IN SHEEP MANAGEMENT - 2006 - Harold W. Gonyou Prairie Swine Centre and the University of Saskatchewan. Introduction to sheep behaviour looking at three touch points: psychology, ethology, and behavioural ecology.

• Lamb rearing strategies: farmer panel - experienced farmers discuss pros and cons of different weaning systems (Old Chatham Sheepherding Co.) - 2005 - Slotter. Beth Slotter of the Old Chatham Sheepherding Co. shares their lamb rearing strategy.

• Lamb rearing strategies: farmer panel - experienced farmers discuss pros and cons of different weaning systems (Bonnieview Farm) - 2005 - Urie. Neil Urie of Bonnieview Farm shares their lamb rearing strategy.

• Lamb rearing strategies: farmer panel - experienced farmers discuss pros and cons of different weaning systems (3-Corner Field Farm) - 2005 - Weinberg. Karen Weinberg of 3-Corner Field Farm shares their lamb rearing strategy.

• Effects of Three Weaning and rearing systems, Milk Production and Lamb Growth - 1999 -McKusick/Berger/Thomas Academic review of studies focused on Day 1/Mix/Day 30 systems for production and economic viability

• Management of a Dairy Sheep Flock and Production of Value Added Cheeses - 1997 - Gasser Analysis of three lamb rearing systems concentrating on the mixed weaning method.

• Weaning Lambs at 30 Days of Age - 1996 - Risa - Overview of good nutrition with feedstuffs for weaning day 30 lambs

• Survival, Growth and feed Efficiency of 1/4 East Friesian Lambs - 1995 - Berger/Thomas Academic research on 1st crop of 1/4 E Friesian lambs. Details feed efficiency and growth.

• Management of Dairy Ewes in a Forage Based System - 1995 - Jarvis - Advice and hands on perspective from a forage based (30 day weaning) dairy in Wisconsin