Abstract
Loss of preweaned lambs and kids is a significant economic burden on small ruminant enterprises. Nutrition is an important factor impacting neonatal losses. Four critical nutritional phases can impact neonatal viability: maternal gestational diet adequacy, colostrum feeding, milk feeding and rumen development, and post-weaning feeding practices. As with any farm animal, consumption of adequate amounts of high-quality colostrum is the single most critical event in the life of a small ruminant. In contrast to dairy cattle, no guidelines defining volume and immunoglobulin (Ig) content for sheep and goat colostrum to ensure adequate passive transfer are available. Similarly, there are no well-defined criteria for determining success or failure of passive transfer in sheep and goats. The second most critical event of the neonatal small ruminant is adequate rumen development to facilitate a smooth transition during the weaning process. This presentation will address these 4 nutritional phases with emphasis on colostrum management practices and rumen development as methods to improve neonatal survivability and viability.
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