Milk Consumption and Growth of Suckling Lambs

The weight gains of eighteen single and ten twin Hampshire lambs and the milk production of their dams were determined. Early growth and milk production were highly correlated (r=.9O). As the lambs grew older the correlation between growth and milk production in each four week period decreased rapidly. However, the total milk production and total growth of the lamb to 16 weeks were highly correlated (r=.83). Factors studied which were correlated with both milk production and lamb growth were weight of the ewe, udder width at lambing, and birth weight of the lamb.