Lambs that have been suckled by ewes during the first 18 hours or more of their lives can be started immediately on milk or milk replacer. However, if there is doubt as to whether a lamb has received any colostrum, give it colostrum or a substitute for best results. Colostrum is the first milk produced by a ewe during the 48 hours immediately after the birth of a lamb. It is yellow and thicker than normal ewe milk. Lambs are born without a front line of defence against disease.
Colostrum provides the antibodies that induce an initial resistance to disease.
Cow colostrum is the best substitute if ewe colostrum is not available. The safest method to heat the thawed colostrum is to put it in a feeding bottle, which is then stood in a saucepan of water and warmed slowly. Place a thermometer in the feeding bottle during heating. If colostrum is heated above 37 o C, the antibodies may be destroyed. If cow colostrum is not available, a substitute can be made from a mixture of 680 mL of cow's milk, one beaten egg, one teaspoon of cod liver oil and one tablespoon of glucose.