🌱 Spring Nutrition for Thriving Young Livestock

As the spring sunshine returns and pastures begin to green, it’s a crucial time for livestock growth and development—especially for young animals just starting their journey. Whether you're raising lambs, calves, piglets, or foals, the right nutrition during spring sets the tone for long-term health, strong growth rates, and future productivity.

At Target Feeds, we understand that early-life nutrition is both an art and a science. Here's how to support different types of youngstock this season.

🐑 Lambs: From Colostrum to Creep Feeding

The first few days of a lamb’s life are critical. Ensure they receive high-quality colostrum within the first 6 hours to kickstart immunity. After that:

• Milk replacers can be used for orphan lambs.
• Creep feeds should be introduced from 7–10 days of age. These should be palatable, high in energy, and easily digestible.

Top Tip: Choose feeds with quality protein and yeast additives to support rumen development and immunity.

🐄 Calves: Building a Foundation for the Herd

Calves need optimal nutrition to convert feed into future dairy or beef potential:

• Ensure at least 4L of colostrum in the first 4 hours.
• Introduce starter feed within the first week.
• Transition to high-spec calf rearing diets to support daily liveweight gains of 0.8kg+.

Don’t forget access to clean, fresh water—it’s essential even for young calves.

🐖 Piglets: High Energy for High Performance

Piglets are incredibly feed-efficient when managed right:

• Wean onto nutritionally dense feeds.
• Gradual transitions are key—avoid stress-induced dips in intake.

Look for feeds with added probiotics and highly digestible ingredients.

🐎 Foals: Feeding Future Champions

Foals rely heavily on milk for the first few weeks but benefit from early exploration of feed:

• Provide a nutrient dense concentrate feed
• Ensure minerals like calcium and phosphorus are balanced for correct bone development.
• Maintain steady growth to avoid developmental issues.

Watch Body Condition—too much or too little weight can impact growth plates and long-term soundness.

🌸 The Target Feeds Approach

Our spring nutrition plans are tailored for each species and growth stage, designed with:

✅ Research-backed formulations
✅ Support for immunity and gut health
✅ Advice and technical backup from our team

Want a customised plan for your farm? Get in touch—your youngstock deserve the best.