Farm Animal Welfare

Sheep Neonatal Colostrum Management

Adequate colostrum intake in neonatal lambs is the single most important factor determining survival and lifetime health - management is critical.

Key Facts

Lambs must receive colostrum within 6 hours of birth for maximum immunoglobulin absorption
Passive transfer failure quadruples lamb mortality in the first month
At least 50ml/kg body weight of colostrum is required in the first 6 hours
Stored colostrum from other ewes can supplement or replace dam colostrum
Cold, weak, or large-litter lambs are highest risk for inadequate intake

Welfare Considerations

Inadequate colostrum intake causes preventable suffering and death in neonatal lambs. Active management of at-risk lambs during the critical first hours of life is both practical and transformative for welfare outcomes.

What You Can Do

Train farm staff in neonatal lamb colostrum management protocols
Maintain a colostrum bank for supplementation of at-risk lambs
Prioritise lambing pen design that enables easy monitoring of neonatal intake