@article {3672,
	title = {Impact of casein- versus whey-based lamb milk replacers on growth and health of artificially reared lambs},
	journal = {New Zealand Journal of Animal Science and Production},
	volume = {81},
	year = {2021},
	month = {01/2022},
	pages = {22-28},
	address = {Online},
	abstract = {High cost of milk proteins has driven development of cheaper whey-based milk replacer (WBMR) as an alternative to skim-milk (casein)-based milk-replacer (CBMR) for artificial-rearing of young ruminants. This study compared growth, antibiotic/anti-inflammatory use and mortality in lambs reared on either WBMR (n=138) or CBMR (n=151) in the first three weeks of rearing at commercial scale. There was a diet x rank interaction (P=0.001) whereby CBMR-fed single/twin and triplet/quad lambs had the highest average daily gain (ADG) independent of birth-rank (362 vs. 358 g/d respectively, SED=16.7) compared to WBMR-fed lambs where higher ADG was observed in triplet/quad compared to single/twin lambs (275 vs. 213 g/d respectively, SED=16.7). Males tended to have higher ADG than females (311 vs. 294, SED=9.7 g/d, P=0.064). Overall, there was a tendency for greater mortality (11\% vs. 4\%; P=0.055), and overall incidence rate (N/100 animal weeks) for use of antibiotics (4.43 vs. 1.27; P=0.073) and anti-inflammatories (4.59 vs. 1.59; P=0.099) in WBMR- than CBMR-fed lambs. These results highlight that CBMR under an ad-libitum milk-feeding regime supports greater ADG independent of birth-rank and reduces the incidence of disease in the first three weeks of life compared to WBMR. Furthermore, WBMR under an ad-libitum milk-feeding regime results in lower ADG of single/twin-born lambs compared to their triplet/quad counterparts.

Keywords: lambs; artificial rearing; milk replacer; composition; growth; health; mortality},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {McCoard SA and Ryrie J and MacDonald T and Hea S-Y and Pacheco D and Stevens D}
}
@article {3672,
	title = {Impact of the proximity of the water source on survival and growth of triplet lambs {\textendash} a case study},
	journal = {New Zealand Journal of Animal Science and Production},
	volume = {80},
	year = {2020},
	month = {09/2020},
	pages = {45-50},
	address = {Online},
	abstract = {The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the provision of greater access to watering sites two weeks prior to lambing
and at least one week after lambing impacts lamb survival and growth to weaning, using triplets as a model. Triplet-bearing ewes
(n=206, 116-131 days gestation) were randomly allocated to either the control (one water trough/paddock) or treatment group (2-3
water troughs/paddock) balanced for ewe live weight, body condition score and stage of gestation, at a stocking density of 8.6-9.1
ewes/ha with three replicated paddocks/treatment. Lamb survival was determined via DNA parentage and lamb growth recorded
at docking, weaning and at six months of age. Lamb survival (60 vs 62\%, P=0.690) and lamb growth (P=0.452) did not differ
between the treatment and control groups. The key finding of this study was that increasing the availability of a water supply to
triplet-bearing ewes in late pregnancy and early lactation did not influence lamb survival or growth.

Keywords: sheep; triplets; water; lamb survival},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {McCoard S and Wing J and Smith T and Hea S-Y}
}
