Abstract
The objective of study was to evaluate through feeding calf milk replacer to lambs for optimum growth performance and survivability. For this purpose, Salt Range neonatal lambs (n = 24, age = 01 week) were selected and divided equally into three groups having 08 lambs each. The experimental lambs were fed ewe milk, calf milk replacer-1 (Telilac) and calf milk replacer-2 (Creamo) through nipple feeding for optimum performance in lambs after mandatory colostrum feeding. Results depicted that average daily gain (ADG) and the body measurements were not different (P>0.05) among lambs fed ewe milk and calf milk replacer-I but higher (P<0.05) than of calf milk replacer-2. Ewe milk and milk replacer-1 were equally efficient diets and better (P<0.05) than replacer-2 in terms of FCR. The survival rate in lambs fed ewe milk and replacer-I remained 100% as compared to 75% in case of lambs fed milk replacer-2. The calf milk replacers were cheaper in terms of milk cost per kg gain than natural ewe milk. It was concluded that high quality calf milk replacer can be used as an efficient substitute of ewe milk for optimum growth performance in neonatal Salt Range lambs after mandatory colostrum feeding.