bottle feeding, can I use cow milk?

[Our7Wonders]

I have been bottle feeding a little lamb for almost a week. We've been milking my doe and using her milk. As appetites are inceasing I'm starting to run short. I'm feeding (3) 3.5 week old bucklings AND the little week old lamb. I know I can use the store bought Vit D whole milk for the goats, can I do the same with the lamb?

I'm starting to get a little frustrated! I got my does so that my family and I could have healthy fresh raw milk and these little critters are getting it all while we all drink the store bought whole milk - I think it's time to tip the scale in our favor.

 

[Julie_A]

Vitamin D milk just doesn't have enough of the good stuff for them.

We've used Purina Kid Replacer. It's powdered and comes in a handy little bucket. We converted the bucket. Added holes and fed kids and sheep with it.

We also tried a weird concoction with Vitamin D milk, Sweetened Condensed milk and Buttermilk.

It was a sticky mess.

I'd just hand with the Purina milk and watch for bloat.

 

[Our7Wonders]

I know there are several in the goat section that use cow's milk for goats successfully - are baby lambs nutritional needs that different? I'm willing to use goats milk exclusively for her if necessary but I'd like to mix it, if I can, 50/50 with something else.

There were some posts before on the replacer causing problems in goats (don't know about lambs). There were a few brands listed as good ones to use but others it sounded like we should stay far away from.

Carnation was listed as a good one, however my feed store doesn't carry it. That's why I thought perhaps I may be able to use cow's milk like many do with goats.

 

[jhm47]

Cows milk does not contain enough nutrients for lambs. Get a good quality lamb milk replacer.

 

[Julie_A]

Here's the concoction we used... but ended up going back to standard milk replacer...

Make a batch of milk replacer for lambs using 1 gallon of whole cow's milk, 1 cup of buttermilk, a beaten egg and one 14.5-ounce can of evaporated milk. Do not substitute low-fat versions for any ingredients. You may substitute 2 cups of buttermilk and 1 cup of whipping cream for the 1 cup buttermilk and beaten egg.

Read more: Homemade Milk Replacer for Lambs | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/way_5835783_homemade-milk-replacer-lambs.html#ixzz1HzyMRnoW

I DID NOT use the egg version. I used milk. They were fine, just sticky. If you have any that bloat, give them a small amount of vegetable oil.

 

[aggieterpkatie]

Don't mess around with mixing crazy concoctions. Just get a good quality milk protein based milk replacer. Many people successfully raise lambs and kids on replacer every year. I know I do. Just make sure you mix it properly.

 

[Julie_A]

Don't mess around with mixing crazy concoctions. Just get a good quality milk protein based milk replacer. Many people successfully raise lambs and kids on replacer every year. I know I do. Just make sure you mix it properly.

I gave up on that mess. It was a pain and it cost a LOT more than replacer. I raised two beautiful Jacob/Katahdin crosses on Purina replacer without a bit of trouble!