​Maryland Small Ruminant Page

All mammals produce colostrum. It is the thick, yellowish "first milk" that is produced by the female after she gives birth (parturition). Colostrum is rich in energy, protein, vitamins and minerals. Most importantly, it contains maternal antibodies that help protect the newborn from disease pathogens during the early part of its life. Ewes and does only produce colostrum for about 24 hours (plus or minus a few hours) after delivering their offspring.
 

The type of antibodies the colostrum contains depends upon the antigens to which the dam was exposed to (by disease exposure or vaccination). Ewes and does should be vaccinated in late pregnancy for overeating disease (clostridium perfringins type C & D) and tetanus (clostridium tetani) so that they will pass antibodies for these diseases to their offspring via the colostrum.

Pregnant females should be kept in the location where they are going to lamb or kid for at least 14 days prior to parturition. This gives them time to manufacture the correct antibodies for their specific lambing and kidding environment.

All newborn mammals need colostrum. While it is possible for a lamb or kid to survive without colostrum in a relatively disease-free environment, the likelihood of disease and death is much higher in lambs and kids that do not receive adequate colostrum. Orphan lambs and kids are often more susceptible to diarrhea and pneumonia because they did not consume enough high quality colostrum.

 

Newborn lambs and kids have limited energy reserves and need rapid access to colostrum to maintain body temperature and survive, especially those born when it is cold. Lambs are born with low vitamin A reserves. Colostrum is usually rich in vitamin A and helps to build stores in the newborn.
 

Colostrum is also the first source of Vitamin E for the lamb or kid. The iron content of colostrum is 10 to 17 times higher in colostrum than normal milk. Colostrum also has laxative qualities and helps to eliminate fecal matter in the newborn's digestive tract.

Research has shown that livestock vary in the quantity and quality of colostrum that they produce. Younger females tend to produce less colostrum than mature females. Inadequate nutriton during late pregnancy can reduce the quantity and quality of colostrum.

In most underfed ewes, the lambs' needs for colostrum often exceed the ewe's production whereas females which are well-fed in late pregnancy usually produce more than their babies need. At the same time, Oregon researchers found no differences in the amount and quality of colostrum produced by ewes with body condition scores ranging from 2.5 to 3.5 [5].

Lambs and kids should nurse as soon after birth as possible in order to receive adequate colostrum. After parturition, it is a good idea to strip each teat to remove the wax plug and make sure the ewe or doe has enough colostrum to feed her offspring. Antibodies are large protein molecules that can only cross the intestinal wall and enter the bloodstream of the lamb during the first 24 to 36 hours of life. Absorption is most efficient the first few hours after birth.

 

High quality colostrum contains 50 mg or more of immunoglobulin-G (IgG). The concentration of immunoglobulins in colostrum decreases rapidly after parturition. An Oregon study showed that IgG concentration in ewe's milk diminished to zero by 23 hours post-partum.Therefore, the sooner cololostrum is consumed, the better. Thirty minutes is considered optimum whereas 18 hours is considered a must.
 

Lambs and kids that are too weak to nurse can be fed colostrum with a nippled bottle or stomach tube. It is recommended that lambs receive 10 percent of their weight in colostrum by the time they are 24 hours old. This means that a 10 pound lamb should receive one pound (16 ounces) of colostrum within 24 hours of birth [3]. Colostrum should be fed at blood temperature (102-103°F, 39-40°C), 2 to 4 ounces at 3 to 4 hour intervals. A 60 cc syringe holds 2 ounces of colostrum.

Colostrum sources

The best source of colostrum is from the lamb or kid's own dam or another female that has recently given birth. If this is not possible, fresh or frozen colostrum from other females in the flock can be used. Colostrum from females from the same flock is the best source of colostrum because it will have