Lamb Starters and Creep Feed: Get a Healthy Gut
by Dr. John M. Kelly
Manager, Technical Services, Land O'Lakes Farmland Ontario

With the lambing season now over, and lambs started into their growth, it is now time to turn our thoughts to developing a healthy and fully functioning gut. The faster the gut is developed, the better the eventual growth and health of the lamb. Creep feeding lambs that are still suckling their mothers can provide supplemental weight gain.

Benefits of a healthy gut
A healthy gut in lambs will improve both overall health and nutrient digestion. Young lambs get most of their disease fighting defences from the colostrum they receive in the first day of life. Once the lamb is weaned, however, it will gain additional defence against pathogens from a fully functional rumen. Additionally, digestion and metabolism of nutrients will be greater the sooner the rumen is developed.

How do we promote rumen development?
The reticulum and rumen are the first two compartments of the lamb's stomach. Preweaning, the microbial population in these compartments is underdeveloped. Once the lamb approaches weaning, however, the microbial population begins to increase and support the digestion and utilization of forages, as well as various protein and energy supplements. The type of feed offered to the lambs determines the kind of bacteria that will populate the rumen; which in turn, affects the development of the gut wall.

Lamb Starter and Milk Replacer
Lambs should be introduced to a lamb starter at 5 days of age. Since lambs like to lick smooth surfaces, it is recommended that lambs initially be provided with minimal amounts in the bottom of a feed trough to encourage intake. Starters ideally should contain a mixture of carbohydrate sources to initiate the ruminal fermentation. For example, the formation of butyric acid from the fermentation of corn, stimulates the development of the ruminal lining, while, hay is less efficient in promoting rumen development in young ruminants.

Since it is essential, that lambs be consuming solid feed prior to weaning, starters should be designed to: encourage intake, prevent urinary calculi problems (Ca: P about 2:1), avoid copper toxicity and provide for fast, efficient gains.

Lamb Creep Feed
The use of creep feeds for nursing lambs is recommended to help ensure a balanced feeding program is provided. Fresh creep feed and water should be available at all times during the milk feeding period in order to encourage early dry feed consumption.

Although fresh grass is high in the vitamins A, D, and E, most is lost during the curing and storage of hay and, therefore, do not contribute to vitamin nutrition of lambs. It is for this reason that vitamin mineral supplements should be fed either free choice, in the sheep grain ration or with a vitamin mineral lick.

When do you feed creep feed?
When lambs are raised in challenging conditions (environment, twinning or triplets, declining or poor quality forage), supplementation of lambs with creep feed can be economically sound. If lambs are introduced to creep feed early (approximately 5 days of age), then by 20 days to weaning, they should consume, on average, 225 grams of creep feed or more. For early weaning, all lambs should be consuming at least 250 grams creep feed per day.

It is important that creep feeds contain ingredients that are appealing to lambs such as coarse ground corn, oats, and alfalfa, and molasses. It should be noted, though, that molasses should be limit fed to a maximum of 5%, since it is bitter when used in higher concentrations.

What is in a creep feed?
Typically creep feed is formulated to a maximum concentrate level of 90% and contains 14% to 20% protein (16% to 18% is common). An advantage of complete feeds and supplements is that they contain minerals, vitamins and other feed additives such as ionophores, probiotics, enzymes or chelated minerals, which are important in health and performance. Many suitable creep mixes can be made, depending on what is economically available.

For pelletized creep feed, 1/4" or 3/16" pellets are preferred; larger pellets can be difficult for the lambs to eat. When providing pelleted feed, have lots of fresh drinking water nearby to ensure good hydration of the pellet in the lamb's rumen. This will support proper fermentation and subsequent papillae development in the rumen. Remember that creep feed needs to be formulated with a sheep specific mineral premix to avoid copper toxicity problems. Do not use dairy and beef mineral premixes as they contain too much copper.

Promoting Creep Feed Intake
Intake of creep feed is not only influenced by the feed provided, but also by the design of the creep area. The creep feeder should be placed in an area where the lambs are encouraged to congregate; in a large enough area that the majority of the lambs can be feeding at any one time. A light in the creep area will help attract lambs into the creep. Creep gates should provide spaces between 8 to 12 inches to allow lambs in but keep ewes out. Creep gates with rollers allow larger lambs through a smaller space. A small used tire can also be used as a creep. Regardless of which technologies are selected, it is important to watch the traffic patterns of the ewes and lambs to determine the best location.

Summary
Young lambs have specific nutrient requirements that need to be met to produce fast growing, efficient animals. Development of a fully functional, healthy rumen will allow lambs to better utilize forages sooner and result in more vigorous, healthy lambs. One nutritional strategy that can positively impact production is the use of creep feed to supplement what is coming from the ewe. Ensuring adequate water and mineral/vitamin supply, along with easy access to creep feed will enhance production.