Liquid Milk Formula

Background
In sheep farming, lamb survival and growth during the pre-weaning stage rely primarily on the mother’s milk. However, native sheep breeds in India often produce insufficient milk, especially when twins or triplets are born. This lack of adequate nutrition can lead to poor weight gain, weak immunity, and higher mortality rates among lambs. The challenge becomes more severe if the dam dies shortly after birth or rejects her lambs, making it difficult for farmers to find surrogate ewes.
To address this critical issue, scientists at ICAR-CSWRI have developed a supplementary Liquid Milk Formula (LMF) designed to replace or support ewe’s milk. This innovation provides a nutrient-rich and cost-effective solution to improve lamb survivability and growth. Fortified with essential nutrients that promote early rumen development, the formula allows lambs to digest solid feed earlier and more efficiently.
This milk formula offers a practical and scalable solution for smallholder and commercial sheep farmers alike, especially in regions with high lambing rates and inadequate milk supply. With India’s large sheep population and millions of lambs born annually, this innovation has the potential to transform neonatal lamb care, reduce mortality, and boost farmers’ income through better flock productivity and milk marketing opportunities.
Technology Details
The supplementary Liquid Milk Formula (LMF) is a scientifically formulated powder designed specifically to meet the nutritional needs of pre-weaning lambs. The formula mimics the composition of ewe’s milk, providing an optimal balance of protein (24-28%) and fat (10-12%) to support healthy growth and development.

Technology Details
The supplementary Liquid Milk Formula (LMF) is a scientifically formulated powder designed specifically to meet the nutritional needs of pre-weaning lambs. The formula mimics the composition of ewe’s milk, providing an optimal balance of protein (24-28%) and fat (10-12%) to support healthy growth and development.
Key Components and Features:
Protein and Fat Balance: The protein and fat content is carefully calibrated to resemble natural ewe milk, ensuring palatability and nutritional adequacy.
Fortification for Rumen Development: The formula is enriched with additives that
promote early rumen development, enabling lambs to better digest solid feeds at an earlier age, which enhances overall feed efficiency.
.
Powder Form: 1 kg of powder can be reconstituted in 6 liters of warm water (35-42°C) to prepare liquid milk for feeding.
Feeding Method: The liquid milk can be bottle-fed or offered using specially designed feeding stands with nipples that simulate natural suckling, which helps lambs adapt quickly.
Shelf Life and Storage: The powder form offers long shelf life and ease of transport compared to fresh milk, with no requirement for refrigeration before reconstitution.
Preparation and Usage Guidelines:
Use clean, potable water warmed to 42°C.
. Dissolve the powder thoroughly by blending or manual stirring for 2-3 minutes to ensure homogeneity.
Start feeding lambs with 100 ml of prepared milk, gradually increasing to 150-200 ml, not exceeding 300 ml per day.
Maintain strict hygiene by sterilizing bottles and nipples after every use.
Feed lambs until 70-75 days of age or until weaning is complete.
Performance Outcomes:
Experiments showed lambs fed on this formula gained 4-5 kg more weight at 3 months than those suckled naturally.
Lambs attained 20-22 kg body weight by three months with better feed conversion ratios.
The formula supports high survivability rates in lambs born as singles, twins, triplets, or quadruplets.