1. Feeding
The feeding and management of lambs prior to weaning play a crucial role in the success of the weaning process. Lambs that are introduced to solid feed early, given fine concentrates, and allowed to graze before weaning can be gradually transitioned into a diet of 2-3 meals per day. This diet should consist of easily digestible food with a crude protein content of 16% to 18%, depending on grazing conditions. The concentrate should be provided in amounts of 100 to 200 grams, ensuring no changes in fecal consistency. At night, high-quality grass or hay should be available for free grazing. It's important not to restrict water or forage intake during this period. The grazing area should be moderate, ideally on artificial pastures around sheep farms, which are usually a mix of legumes and grasses. Toxic feeds such as rapeseed meal or cottonseed cake should be avoided. If soybean meal is used, it should be roasted or replaced with roasted soybeans.
The weaning lamb’s feed composition includes: 30% roasted soybeans, 10% fried bran, 46% corn, 5% alfalfa meal, 5% crushed barley, 0.5% milk powder, 0.5% brown sugar, 1% bone meal, 1% salt, and 1% trace element additives containing selenium. This balanced formula ensures proper nutrition and supports healthy growth during the critical weaning phase.
2. Management
In current production systems in our country, lambs are typically weaned at 60 days of age for fattening purposes. However, if supplemental feeding conditions are favorable, weaning can occur as early as 42 days. This early weaning helps accelerate breeding cycles but requires careful management to prevent stress-related deaths and diseases.
Starting from the planned weaning date, the number of nursing sessions should be gradually reduced from 2-3 times daily to once a day. After 1-2 weeks of adaptation, the lambs can be fully weaned. Post-weaning, lambs should be grouped together and allowed to graze in close proximity. Upon returning from grazing, they should be given 100-200 grams of mixed concentrate at night, along with free access to high-quality green hay. For lambs being fed, the diet should focus on crisp and nutritious forages like alfalfa and oats, with a gradual increase in concentrate levels. It's important that the fecal output remains consistent, and feed should be offered in 2-3 small meals per day. (Han Fengtao)
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