In contrast to pigs and cattle, research focussed on sheep colostrum is limited, especially regarding measuring and defining colostrum quality. Colostrum is the first mammary gland secretion available to offspring and it is accumulated during the last term of gestation. Colostrum is an essential source of nutrition, immunoglobulins and bio-actives, and adequate consumption significantly increases the neonate's chance of surviving the challenging ex utero environment. Colostrum plays an important role during development of the immune system, post-natal growth and thermoregulation, and also mediates the creation of the ewe-lamb bond. In addition to increasing the neonate's ability to survive, access to colostrum during the neonatal period has the potential to improve the future production, development and reproductive efficiency of lambs, as studies in pigs have shown that access to colostrum during the neonatal period promotes maturation of the reproductive tract and increases reproductive efficiency later in life. Colostrum effects many developmental aspects of the neonate therefore, it is important that it is of high quality to ensure maximum future productivity. This review summarises the information currently available on sheep colostrum, including supporting research conducted in cattle and pigs, with particular focus on the impact of colostrum composition and quality on progeny performance.

与猪和牛相比，对绵羊初乳的研究是有限的，尤其是在测量和定义初乳质量方面。初乳是后代可利用的第一个乳腺分泌物，它在妊娠的最后一个阶段积累。初乳是营养、免疫球蛋白和生物活性物质的重要来源，充足的食用量可显着增加新生儿在宫外环境中存活的机会环境。初乳在免疫系统发育、出生后生长和体温调节过程中起着重要作用，并且还介导母羊-羔羊债券的形成。除了提高新生儿的生存能力外，在新生儿期获得初乳还有可能提高羔羊未来的生产、发育和繁殖效率，因为对猪的研究表明，在新生儿期获得初乳可促进羔羊的成熟。生殖道，并在以后的生活中提高生殖效率。初乳会影响新生儿的许多发育方面，因此，确保其具有高品质以确保未来的最大生产力非常重要。本综述总结了目前有关绵羊初乳的信息，