After the injection, the lamb should be dried, warmed and fed with colostrum. When the lamb is active and sucking vigorously it may be returned to the ewe. Resuscitated lambs that are too weak to be returned to the ewe must be kept warm, fed with colostrum or milk substitute and regularly inspected for signs of infectious disease. If hypothermia recurs, the lamb should be given another glucose injection and be warmed. Feeding Colostrum Colostrum contains antibodies, protein and energy, which are all essential to give the lamb a good start in life and protection from disease.
Colostrum also has a laxative effect and starts the bowels moving.
Ewe colostrum, either from the lamb's own mother or from a freshly lambed ewe is best. Alternatively cows colostrum can be frozen in suitable quantities in the freezer for up to one year and used as required. Ideally the cow should have been vaccinated against clostridial disease and thereby pass on immunity in the colostrum. The colostrum should be thawed out gradually and fed at body temperature using a stomach tube. Repeat colostrum feeding at four hourly intervals until lamb has revived.