Tip
Use the richest, highest fat content buttermilk available. This helps to raise the fat content of the milk replacer, giving extra energy for the kid or lamb.
Do not use milk replacers designed or formulated for other species.
Feed the milk replacer using bottles fitted with rubber nipples.
Keep the milk replacer between 35 and 40 degrees F. Using cold milk prevents lambs from overeating.
Many situations can lead to the necessity to bottle feed a lamb. The ewe may die in delivery, abandon the lamb or give birth to more lambs than she is capable of nursing. Commercial milk replacers are available, but an acceptable mixture can be made with items commonly found at home.
Step 1
Remove about 1/3 gallon of milk from a 1-gallon container of whole milk. This milk can be commercially purchased pasteurized and homogenized milk. Purchasing the milk in a 1-gallon container provides the vessel for mixing and storing the milk replacer.
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Step 2
Add 1 can of evaporated milk and 1 cup of buttermilk to the whole milk in the 1-gallon container.
Step 3
Shake the container to mix the combined ingredients.
Step 4
Add enough of the whole milk that was removed to top off the container. This gallon of milk replacer can be used for kids or lambs.
Step 5
Fill a bottle with the milk replacer and attach a rubber nipple to feed a lamb or kid.
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