Brady Campbell, Program Coordinator, OSU Sheep Team
At what age do you wean your lambs? This is a question that I have asked producers many times. I have heard ages ranging from 35-130
days of age with the most common answer being 60 days of age. This is the most common weaning age for producers in the eastern United States. When I ask producers why they wean their lambs at 60 days of age or younger, most respond with “that’s the way we have always done it here on the farm, so why change now?”
From a researcher’s perspective, this is not a valid answer. Weaning before the natural weaning age (between 100-180 days of age depending upon sheep breed) is stressful. Weaning stress can lead to decreases in animal performance as demonstrated by decreased weight gain. Weaning stress can also result in decreased animal health as shown by decreases in immune system function that can lead to an increased susceptibility to disease and infection. However, if we were to let nature run its course and allow for animals to wean naturally, could we increase animal health and performance?
Considering the nutritional components of milk (fat and protein) as well as the stress associated with weaning, if producers increased the weaning age of lambs, would this allow operations to capitalize on lamb growth and health? In order to determine if delayed weaning benefits lamb health and performance, the authors below conducted two experiments.
Data measurements collected in both experiments included body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG) to monitor lamb performance. Packed cell volume (PCV), Fecal Egg Counts (FEC), and FAMACHA eye scores were collected to monitor lamb health. Packed cell volume is a measurement that determines the amount of circulating red blood cells in the body which can be used to assess the level of anemia (blood loss). Fecal egg counts were used to quantify the number of parasite eggs being shed per gram of feces. FAMACHA eye scores were also used to assess circulating blood levels by viewing the mucosal membrane of the inner eyelid, a quick and easy way for producers to monitor their flock on-farm for Haemonchus contortus.
In experiment 1, lambs were placed into one of two weaning treatments; Pasture Control (PC): lambs weaned at 60 days of age and placed on pasture and Ewe (E): lambs placed on pasture with ewe and weaned at approximately 123 days of age. Grazing paddocks were primarily composed of tall fescue and known to be infected with parasites (Haemonchus contortus – parasite of interest). In addition, lambs in experiment 1 were provided one of two mineral sources, loose mineral verses block mineral supplementation. At the end of the grazing phase, all lambs remained in their treatment groups and were fed to a targeted finishing weight (~120 lbs.) during the feedlot phase.
For lamb performance, lambs that were weaned at 123 days of age (E) had a greater final BW and greater total ADG. From a health standpoint, E lambs had a higher PCV value at the end of the grazing portion of the trial when compared to PC lambs. Farm records also indicated that 41.7% of PC lambs required anthelmintic treatment as a result of parasitic infection whereas 0% of E lambs required anthelmintic treatment. In addition, when looking at the effects of mineral type, lambs consuming loose mineral had a greater overall ADG while on pasture when compared to those lambs consuming block mineral.
During the finishing phase, E lambs had a greater average BW entering the feedlot, spent fewer days in the feedlot, and had a greater overall ADG when compared to PC lambs. However, PC lambs had a greater gain:feed ratio and greater total dry matter intake (DMI) while in the feedlot when compared to E lambs.
In experiment 2, lambs were placed into one of four weaning treatments; Pasture Control (PC): lambs weaned at 60 days of age. Ewe (E): lambs weaned at approximately 116 days of age. Social Facilitator (SF): lambs weaned at 60 days of age and placed on pasture with non-lactating, non-related ewes. Feedlot Control (FC): lambs weaned at 60 days of age and placed in a research feedlot facility. Lambs in the pasture treatment groups (E, SF, and PC) were housed on the same pastures as described in experiment 1. All lambs in experiment 2 were provided with the same loose mineral due to the results found in experiment 1. At the end of the grazing phase, all lambs remained in their treatment groups and were fed to a targeted finishing weight (~117 lbs.) during the feedlot phase.
From a performance standpoint, E lambs had the greatest final body weight while FC lambs had a greater final BW when compared to PC lambs at the end of the grazing phase. FC lambs also had the greatest final ADG at the end of the grazing phase. Due to the change in diet, FC lambs had the lowest BW for the first 28 days of the grazing phase. As for lamb health, E and FC lambs had a smaller change in PCV values from day 28 to the end of the grazing phase. As calculated in experiment 1, farm records showed that a total of 5, 50, and 55% of FC, PC, and SF lambs received anthelmintic treatment during the grazing phase whereas 0% of E lambs received anthelmintic treatment.
During the finishing phase, FC lambs spent the greatest number of days in the feedlot, had the greatest total weight gain, and lowest DMI per day when compared to all other treatment groups. Additionally, E lambs spent the fewest number of days in the feedlot, had the lowest total weight gain, and had a the highest DMI day when compared to all other treatment groups during the finishing phase.
In conclusion, delayed weaning in both experiments proved to be beneficial. For those producers that face challenges with parasitic infection and are interested in raising grass-fed lamb, delayed weaning may be a cost effective alternative as delayed weaned lambs had greater gains and did not require any treatment for internal parasites. In addition, while mineral supplementation is important for basic biological functions, experiment 1 showed that lambs that were offered a loose mineral had a greater overall ADG when compared to those lambs that were consuming block mineral. Upon entering the feedlot, delayed weaned lambs spent fewer days on feed and were marketed at the same age as those lambs that entered the feedlot at 60 days of age. Therefore, for those producers that are interested in utilizing more pasture, decreasing the use of anthelmintics, and decreasing the amount of grain require to finish lambs, delayed weaning may be a viable option.
Campbell, B. J., A. N. Pullin, M. D. Pairis-Garcia, J. S. McCutcheon, G. D. Lowe, M. R. Campler, and F. L. Fluharty. 2017. The effects of alternative weaning strategies on lamb health and performance. Small Rumin. Res. 156: 57-65.