Lamb creep feeding: when to start and what to feed
Lamb creep feeding gives suckling lambs access to their own dry feed while they stay with the ewe. Start with ground or pelleted feed containing 18 to 20 percent protein, then gradually reduce to 14 to 16 percent by weaning. Keep calcium to phosphorus at 2 to 1 and include copper when assessing the ration.
Compiled from open-access scientific sources.
Reference values and basis
| Parameter and basis | Value |
|---|---|
| Starter creep protein (as-fed crude protein) | 18 to 20% |
| Feed protein at weaning | 14 to 16% |
| Feed texture up to 4 to 6 weeks of age | Ground feed or pellets about 6 mm (0.25 in) |
| Feeder space per lamb | 5 cm (2 in) |
| Creep space per lamb | 0.14 to 0.19 m2 (1.5 to 2.0 sq ft) |
| Calcium to phosphorus ratio | 2 to 1 or higher |
| Feed per kg gained by young lambs | 2 to 4 kg |
| Extra weight at weaning | 10 to 20% in creep-fed lambs |
| Feed change | Mix feeds over at least 1 week |
When do lambs start eating creep feed?
Lambs start nibbling solid feed in their first weeks. Offer ground feed or small pellets of about 6 mm until they are 4 to 6 weeks old, then move to coarser feed or cracked grain. Put the feeder out early so lambs learn where to find it before they eat much. Choose a bright, sunny spot with dry bedding, and position the feeder far enough inside the creep area that ewes cannot reach through the barrier. Offer legume or mixed hay freely alongside it: forage helps the rumen develop as well as grain. HerdMobile helps you calculate the young lambs' daily ration using the starter feed you actually have.
What should lamb creep feed contain?
Starter creep feed should contain about 18 to 20 percent crude protein, falling to 14 to 16 percent by weaning, according to Penn State Extension. If you add soybean meal on top, stop after one or two weeks. Keep calcium to phosphorus at 2 to 1 or higher: grain-heavy diets increase the risk of urinary stones in ram lambs. Ammonium chloride at 0.5 percent of the diet is also suggested for this risk. Sheep are sensitive to copper, so choose feed made for sheep. Enter the feed analysis in HerdMobile to check the whole ration against 7 to 15 mg of copper per kilogram of dry matter. Any ionophore used must be labelled for sheep.
Is creep feeding worth the cost?
Creep feeding pays when the extra weight is worth more than the feed. Young lambs often need 2 to 4 kg of feed for 1 kg of gain; older animals need 4 to 6 kg. Creep-fed lambs often weigh 10 to 20 percent more at weaning. For example, an extra 10 lb (about 4.5 kg) of gain at 3 to 1 takes about 30 lb (about 13.5 kg) of feed, leaving roughly 19 dollars more after feed costs. Lambs from multiple births benefit most, though singles can benefit too. Use your feed prices and weaning weights in HerdMobile to compare feed cost per kilogram gained with your selling price, then decide how long to continue.
Questions from the farm
What protein level should lamb creep feed have?
Lamb starter creep feed should contain about 18 to 20 percent crude protein, reducing to 14 to 16 percent by weaning.
How much feeder space does each lamb need?
Allow about 5 cm (2 in) of feeder length and 0.14 to 0.19 m2 (1.5 to 2.0 sq ft) of creep area per lamb.
Why balance calcium and phosphorus?
Grain-heavy creep feed is high in phosphorus. A calcium to phosphorus ratio of 2 to 1 or higher helps reduce the risk of urinary stones in ram lambs.
Can lambs have goat or cattle creep feed?
Choose creep feed made for sheep, which are sensitive to copper. HerdMobile checks the whole ration against 7 to 15 mg of copper per kilogram of dry matter.
How HerdMobile helps
Bring your animals, feed stocks and farm accounts together on your Android phone. HerdMobile keeps your daily work moving offline: record events, compare feed quantities and follow sales and payments in one place. Use your own feeds and herd information to prepare a ration, then keep a backup file under your control.
HerdMobile helps you track lamb starter feed, check the whole ration against sheep mineral ranges, including copper, and see the feed cost per lamb. Add weaning weights so you can compare growth and returns from creep feeding across seasons.
