Milk heatwave for lambs

steveR · Mar 18, 2024

Nithsdale said:
It's a simple job which people try to be smart at and over complicate - usually because the College has told them so

Once they're a week old it's a waste of time giving hot/warm milk IME - and you run the risk of Red Gut.
The milk stays fresher for longer cold so yes there's bound to be less bugs

I used to feed warm until they were weaned off it and lambs always looked shyte and we're here til well on in the year. Can't remember when I switched to the method of rearing above but since, the pet lambs go away mixed with the rest of the lamb crop and can't be picked out coming off the trailer at market or abattoir

Well we reckon that our cades are the equal to the lambs on ewes, right to the moment they are weaned, then it is toss up which keep going strongly... Some who eat pellets well, will do OK.

Nithsdale · Mar 18, 2024

steveR said:
Well we reckon that our cades are the equal to the lambs on ewes, right to the moment they are weaned, then it is toss up which keep going strongly... Some who eat pellets well, will do OK.

Failing at weaning isn't good though is it... unless you keep them on it til killing

Hill Ground · Mar 18, 2024

Nithsdale said:
Failing at weaning isn't good though is it... unless you keep them on it til killing

Our pet lambs are always mediocre after weaning.

Most years they are the dearest lambs we sell the following may too!!

Nithsdale · Mar 18, 2024

Hill Ground said:
Our pet lambs are always mediocre after weaning.

Most years they are the dearest lambs we sell the following may too!!

They need to be dear if you're keeping them a whole year

Trade is unbelievable currently hopefully it continues

Quaddog · Mar 18, 2024

Lambs do very well on heatwave. The milk is only heated as they draw it through the coil so you can mix large quantities of cold. They do drink a lot though. Best thing is the labour saving. Might even pay this time if prices stay up.

steveR · Mar 18, 2024

Nithsdale said:
Failing at weaning isn't good though is it... unless you keep them on it til killing

Agree, they are not right offs, but just not as good... all go to market, but a bit later and NEVER drift into the Autumn from and April lambing.

Estate fencing. · Mar 18, 2024

We have a heatwave on a wydake mixer, can mix up 110 ltrs at a time, got a timer on to mix of 5 mins every hour to keep it agitated. Works very well and lamb are as good if not better than on ewes.

Norfolk Hill Farmer · Mar 18, 2024

Timbo said:
You're meant to run the hypochlorite through it every couple/ three days for this reason

I do but it still clogs.

quavers · Mar 19, 2024

Estate fencing. said:
We have a heatwave on a wydake mixer, can mix up 110 ltrs at a time, got a timer on to mix of 5 mins every hour to keep it agitated. Works very well and lamb are as good if not better than on ewes.

do you have problems with teats constantly dripping with the head of milk in the mixer we do here have tried a few different non return valves but still a constant drip , quite a bit of milk over 24 hrs

aangus · Mar 19, 2024

quavers said:
do you have problems with teats constantly dripping with the head of milk in the mixer we do here have tried a few different non return valves but still a constant drip , quite a bit of milk over 24 hrs

I'm having problems with air getting into the lines, replaced everything this year apart from the the plastic coils that sit in the warm water. I even phoned Shearwell but they didn't come back with any ideas

Bill dog · Mar 19, 2024

aangus said:
I'm having problems with air getting into the lines, replaced everything this year apart from the the plastic coils that sit in the warm water. I even phoned Shearwell but they didn't come back with any ideas

Are you sitting the milk up high , on a bale maybe , and that’s creating too much pressure?
Or your non return valves may be needing a clean up .

aangus · Mar 19, 2024

Bill dog said:
Are you sitting the milk up high , on a bale maybe , and that’s creating too much pressure?
Or your non return valves may be needing a clean up .

Cleaning every day, have tried the milk container on the level and up a height and still makes no difference. Even mixing the milk powder with a drill this year. Hoping someone on here can help

Moors Lad · Mar 19, 2024

Norfolk Hill Farmer said:
What make of milk powder do people put through the heat wave ? Have found some makes will gum the coil up.

Only ever use Volac - not had a problem , BUT only have a very small number of lambs so not a big throughput of milk.....

quavers · Mar 19, 2024

aangus said:
Cleaning every day, have tried the milk container on the level and up a height and still makes no difference. Even mixing the milk powder with a drill this year. Hoping someone on here can help

try a air line to pressure up the system and brush every thing with soapy water , our local supplier is sitting with the blue curly coils so must be problems some times

aangus · Mar 19, 2024

quavers said:
try a air line to pressure up the system and brush every thing with soapy water , our local supplier is sitting with the blue curly coils so must be problems some times

But wouldn’t the blue coil pull in water from the tank

aangus · Mar 19, 2024

quavers said:
try a air line to pressure up the system and brush every thing with soapy water , our local supplier is sitting with the blue curly coils so must be problems some times

I will try to pressure the line when I get a chance. Thanks

Quaddog · Mar 20, 2024

Usually the valves clogged when air getting in and sucks in from the teat end. Also it’s better if the valve hangs vertically as gravity closes them. Have to make sure they’re fitted the right way as well.

aangus said:
I'm having problems with air getting into the lines, replaced everything this year apart from the the plastic coils that sit in the warm water. I even phoned Shearwell but they didn't come back with any ideas

goodevans · Mar 20, 2024

We kept a little compressor by ours when we used it as needed blowing out all the time, the other thing I can remember is it only took the tiniest bit of straw or rubbish get into the reservoir of milk to block the valves,soon saw the light and got a britmix,

quavers · Mar 20, 2024

aangus said:
I will try to pressure the line when I get a chance. Thanks

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/19580257...6&customid=foz9wyodAAAAvPMVsxNr0d-JogU4AAAAAA hope the link works , but you ll find the pipes alot easier bleed if you bellows hand pumps in each line your supplier should have them cheaper than above , they should also show up any leaks

Milk heatwave for lambs

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