Supplementary feeding strategies for lambs

Optimising ewe nutrition during pregnancy and lactation is key for increasing lamb survival. Supplementary feeding is often required to meet the nutritional demands of ewes lambing in autumn and when feed-on-offer is limited when lambing in winter or even early spring. Anecdotal evidence has suggested that supplementary feeding ewes at lambing may cause them to abandon their lambs which could reduce lamb survival. However, there is conflicting opinion as to whether trail feeding or the use of self-feeders is more favourable for lamb survival. This project will evaluate the effects of various methods for trail feeding and self-feeders at lambing on ewe behaviour and lamb survival. It will deliver guidelines to producers for supplementary feeding during lambing to optimise lamb survival.