In current feeding and management practices, Chinese rural sheep farming often relies on economic hybrids, with many farmers choosing local high-quality mutton breeds as their primary breeding stock. Some of these native breeds are known for their high fertility rates, producing multiple lambs per litter. However, in certain cases, a single ewe may give birth to more lambs than she can adequately nurse, especially when the ewe is small or undernourished. While this might seem beneficial at first—more lambs mean higher potential income—it can lead to serious issues if not properly managed.
If the ewes are not fed sufficiently or if the lambs are not well cared for, weaker lambs may struggle to get enough milk, leading to starvation, cold exposure, or even death. In extreme cases, entire litters can be lost, turning a positive situation into a negative one. To improve lamb survival rates and maximize economic returns, farmers should adopt several effective feeding strategies.
First, **lamb fostering** can be used when a ewe gives birth to more lambs than she can care for, or if the mother dies during birth. In such cases, lambs from different litters can be combined and fostered by other ewes. For successful fostering, it's important that the ewes have given birth within 3–5 days of each other, and that the lambs are similar in size. Ewes have a strong sense of smell, so to avoid rejection, the foster lambs are often sprayed with the scent of the foster mother’s milk or urine before being introduced. This helps the ewe accept them more readily.
Second, **batch breastfeeding** is another useful method. When there are too many lambs for a single ewe to feed, they can be divided into groups and taken turns nursing. This requires careful management of the ewes’ nutrition to ensure they produce enough milk. Lambs should be grouped based on size and strength to balance the workload. Early feeding practices should also be implemented to reduce the strain on the ewes and promote even growth among the lambs.
Third, **artificial milk feeding** is essential when ewes lack sufficient milk or have too many lambs. A simple formula like 20% milk, 10% sugar, and 70% water can be used temporarily. It should be boiled and cooled to around 37°C before feeding. Alternatively, rice porridge mixed with sugar or milk can be used. For weak or young lambs, bottle-feeding is an option. If many lambs need artificial feeding, training them to drink from a bowl is recommended. This involves placing the milk in a shallow container and guiding the lambs to suck using a finger as a substitute teat. After a few days, most lambs will learn to drink on their own.
For longer-term artificial feeding, a more balanced formula is necessary. After 20 days of age, a mix of 50% wheat flour, 17% fried soybean powder, 10% skim milk powder, 4% yeast, 4.5% sugar, 1.5% calcium powder, 0.5% salt, and 0.5% trace elements can be used. This mixture should be prepared with fresh water, stirred well, and cooled to body temperature. As lambs grow, the proportion of liquid can gradually decrease, transitioning them to solid feed.
By implementing these methods, farmers can significantly improve lamb survival, enhance productivity, and ultimately increase their profitability in mutton sheep farming.
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