A growing concern in South African feedlot systems is the increased prevalence of non-adapting weaner lambs. This study aimed to identify on-farm risk factors associated with poor adaptation using retrospective production data and a structured questionnaire administered to 80 lamb-rearing farms across South Africa. Risk factors were estimated using Poisson regression to calculate risk ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Of the farmers interviewed, 56% (45/80) did not supply creep feed to their pre-weaned lambs in any form, whereas 75% (60/80) supplied additional feed to their ewes. A lack of creep feed supplementation, extensive lamb rearing, and lambs being born in seasons other than summer were significant risk factors for non-adapting lambs. Spatial clustering of high-death locations was also observed. Creep feeding offers critical benefits, including improved rumen development, increased weight gain, earlier weaning, and improved feedlot adaptability. Lamb-producing areas in South Africa occur in semi-arid regions with low carrying capacities, favouring extensive management systems. Creep feed is often infrequently offered or omitted in extensive rearing systems, owing to logistical challenges. The weaner lamb price, typically determined by feedlots, is rarely influenced by on-farm managerial practices such as creep feed supplementation. As a result, producers may view creep feeding as an unnecessary expense, because of the lack of financial incentives. Promoting awareness of the production and economic benefits of creep feeding, improving communication between feedlots and lamb producers, and encouraging the implementation of good agricultural practices would encourage farmers to adopt specified production and management practices to improve lamb adaptability in South African feedlots.

(Submitted 20 September 2025; Accepted 04 May 2026; Published 12 May 2026)