bottle feeding questions

[emanuelcs34]

I get a few bummer lambs every year, and have always fed milk replacer. I have read lately that you can feed cows milk to them. But thought that they could not drink it because it was hard to digest.
So I was wondering if anyone had fed them cows milk successfully.
I have access to raw cows milk from a farm, and if possible would prefer that over buying an expensive bag of milk replacer.

Thanks in advance,
cindy

[Bearfootfarm]

Raw milk would be perfect for them.
I've used whole milk from the store with no problems

[emanuelcs34]

Ok thanks, that will be a lot cheaper for me.

[farmmom]

What about goat milk? Is that ok for lambs? I'm considering purchasing a lamb and have dairy goats.

[Bearfootfarm]

Originally Posted by farmmom

What about goat milk? Is that ok for lambs? I'm considering purchasing a lamb and have dairy goats.

Goat milk is fine also. It's probably better than cow's milk for lambs

[sheepish]

Lamb milk replacer is cow's milk based. But it is adjusted so that the fat and protein more closely resemble sheep milk.

Sheep milk has about twice the fat and protein content of cow or goat milk.

See the chart at this link for a comparison:http://www.sheepdairying.co.uk/Milk.htm

[eieiomom]

Thanks Sheepish,

I have been looking all over for that chart !!

Butterfat in ewe milk can even reach well over 7%, depending on some variables.

I know of people who raise lambs on goat's milk, but it is not recommended to raise lambs on cow's milk.

Deb