Effect of twin-bearing ewe body condition score and late pregnancy nutrition on lamb performance
P. R. Kenyon A B , R. E. Hickson A , P. G. Hutton A , S. T. Morris A , K. J. Stafford A and D. M. West A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Sheep Research Centre, Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
B Corresponding author. Email: P.R.Kenyon@massey.ac.nz
Animal Production Science 52(7) 483-490 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN12085
Submitted: 9 November 2011 Accepted: 15 March 2012 Published: 8 May 2012
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the effects of ewe body condition score and nutrition on twin-bearing ewes and their offspring. At maximum Day 112 of pregnancy (range 96–112 days), 185 twin-bearing ewes were allocated to either a ‘Medium’ or ‘ad libitum’ (Adlib) feeding treatment for the following 25 days (P112–P136). Each feeding treatment included ewes of body condition score: 2.0 (CS2.0, Medium n = 32, Adlib n = 28), CS2.5 (Medium n = 31, Adlib n = 33) or CS3.0 (Medium n = 30, Adlib n = 31). After P136 ewes were offered Adlib feeding conditions. Medium treatment ewes were lighter (P < 0.05) than Adlib ewes at P136 and P142 and displayed lower (P < 0.05) body condition score at P136 and back-fat depths at P142. CS2.0 ewes had lower (P < 0.05) liveweights and body condition score at P112, P136 and P142 than CS2.5 ewes, which in turn had lower (P < 0.05) liveweight and body condition scores than CS3.0 ewes. Ewe feeding treatment had no effect (P > 0.05) on lamb liveweight or apparent colostrum intake. Ewe body condition score had no effect (P > 0.05) on lamb birthweight or apparent colostrum intake. Lambs born to CS2.0 ewes had greater (P < 0.05) survival than lambs born to CS2.5 ewes. At the end of the study lambs born to CS2.0 ewes were lighter (P < 0.05) than those born to CS2.5 and CS3.0 ewes although, there was (P > 0.05) no effect of condition score on total litter liveweight. In conclusion, these results suggest twin-bearing ewes of body condition 2.0–3.0 can be offered restricted feeding levels to at least Day 136 of pregnancy with few implications for their lambs.
References
Al-Sabbagh TA, Swanson LV, Thompson JM (1995) The effect of ewe body condition at lambing on colostral immunoglobulin G concentration and lamb performance. Journal of Animal Science 73, 2860–2864.Alvarez JM, Garica Vinent JC, Minno DP, Giorgetti HD, Rodriguez G, Baseelga Izquierdo M (2007) Factors that affect lamb growth 1. Influence of ewe body condition. Revista Argentina de Produccion Animal 27, 317–318.
Atti N, Abdennebi L (1994) Body condition and growth of Barbary ewes. Cahiers Options Mediterraneennes 6, 75–80.
Caldeira RM, Belo AT, Santos CC, Vazques MI, Portugal AV (2007) The effect of body condition score on blood metabolites and hormonal profiles in ewes. Small Ruminant Research 68, 233–241.
| The effect of body condition score on blood metabolites and hormonal profiles in ewes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Corner RA, Kenyon PR, Stafford KJ, West DM, Morris ST, Lopez-Villalobos N, Oliver MH (2008) The effect of nutrition from mid- to late-pregnancy on the performance of twin- and triplet-bearing ewes and their lambs. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 48, 666–671.
| The effect of nutrition from mid- to late-pregnancy on the performance of twin- and triplet-bearing ewes and their lambs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Corner RA, Kenyon PR, Stafford KJ, West DM, Morris ST, Oliver MH (2010) The effect of pasture availability for twin- and triplet-bearing ewes in mid and late pregnancy on ewe and lamb behaviour 12 to 24 h after birth. Animal 4, 108–115.
| The effect of pasture availability for twin- and triplet-bearing ewes in mid and late pregnancy on ewe and lamb behaviour 12 to 24 h after birth.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BC38vptV2isQ%3D%3D&md5=db1e604108ca996c53df9f0df2994e91CAS |
Everett-Hincks JM, Blair HT, Stafford KJ, Lopez-Villalobos N, Kenyon PR, Morris ST (2005) The effect of pasture allowance fed to twin- and triplet-bearing ewes in late pregnancy on ewe and lamb behaviour and performance to weaning. Livestock Production Science 97, 253–266.
| The effect of pasture allowance fed to twin- and triplet-bearing ewes in late pregnancy on ewe and lamb behaviour and performance to weaning.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gibb MJ, Treacher TT (1980) The effect of ewe body condition at lambing on the performance of ewes and their lambs at pasture. The Journal of Agricultural Science 95, 631–640.
| The effect of ewe body condition at lambing on the performance of ewes and their lambs at pasture.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gibb MJ, Treacher TT (1982) The effect of body condition and nutrition during late pregnancy on the performance of grazing ewes during lactation. Animal Production 34, 123–129.
| The effect of body condition and nutrition during late pregnancy on the performance of grazing ewes during lactation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hodgson J, Matthews PNP, Matthew C, Lucas RJ (1999) Pasture measurement. In ‘New Zealand pasture and crop science’. (Eds J White, J Hodgson) pp. 59–66. (Oxford University Press: Auckland, New Zealand)
Hossamo HE, Owen JB, Farid MFA (1986) Body condition score and production in fat-tailed Awassi sheep under range conditions. Research and Development in Agriculture 3, 99–104.
Jefferies BC (1961) Body condition scoring and its use in management. Tasmanian Journal of Agriculture 32, 19–21.
Kenyon PR, Morel PCH, Morris ST (2004) Effect of ewe liveweight and condition score at mating, and mid-pregnancy shearing, on birthweights and growth rates of twin lambs to weaning. New Zealand Veterinary Journal 52, 145–149.
| Effect of ewe liveweight and condition score at mating, and mid-pregnancy shearing, on birthweights and growth rates of twin lambs to weaning.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD2M7js1ahsg%3D%3D&md5=3498493cd59b0b91b0edb6c37f535e82CAS |
Kenyon PR, Stafford KJ, Jenkinson CMC, Morris ST, West DM (2007) The body composition and metabolic status of twin- and triplet-bearing ewes and their fetuses in late pregnancy. Livestock Science 107, 103–112.
| The body composition and metabolic status of twin- and triplet-bearing ewes and their fetuses in late pregnancy.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kenyon PR, Blair HT, Jenkinson CMC, Morris ST, MacKenzie DDS, Peterson SW, Firth EC, Johnston PL (2009) The effect of ewe size and nutritional regimen beginning in early pregnancy on ewe and lamb performance to weaning. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 52, 203–212.
| The effect of ewe size and nutritional regimen beginning in early pregnancy on ewe and lamb performance to weaning.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kenyon PR, Morris ST, Stafford KJ, West DM (2011a) The effect of ewe body condition and nutrition in late pregnancy on the performance of triplet-bearing ewes and their progeny. Animal Production Science 51, 557–564.
| The effect of ewe body condition and nutrition in late pregnancy on the performance of triplet-bearing ewes and their progeny.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kenyon PR, Pain SJ, Hutton PG, Jenkinson CMC, Morris ST, Peterson SW, Blair HT (2011b) Effects of twin-bearing ewe nutritional treatments on ewes and lamb performance to weaning. Animal Production Science 51, 406–415.
| Effects of twin-bearing ewe nutritional treatments on ewes and lamb performance to weaning.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kleemann DO, Walker SK (2005) Fertility in South Australian commercial Merino flocks: relationships between reproductive traits and environmental cues. Theriogenology 63, 2416–2433.
| Fertility in South Australian commercial Merino flocks: relationships between reproductive traits and environmental cues.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Litherland AJ, Lambert MG, McLaren PN (1999) Effects of herbage mass and ewe condition score at lambing on lamb survival and liveweight gain. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 59, 104–107.
Mathias-Davis HC, Shackell GH, Greer GJ, Everett-Hincks JM (2011) The association of ewe body condition score with weight of lamb weaned. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 71, 62–65.
Matthews PNP, Hodgson J, White JGH (2000) Livestock farming systems in New Zealand. In ‘New Zealand pasture and crop science’. (Eds JGH White, J Hodgson) pp. 133–151. (Oxford University Press: Melbourne)
Maurya VP, Kumar S, Kumar D, Gulyani R, Joshi A, Naqvi SMK, Arora AL, Singh VK (2009) Effect of body condition score on reproductive performance of Chokla ewes. The Indian Journal of Animal Sciences 79, 1136–1138.
McNeill DM, Kelly RW, Williams IH (1997a) The partition of nutrients in ewes maintained in moderate compared with lean body condition in late pregnancy. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 48, 743–752.
| The partition of nutrients in ewes maintained in moderate compared with lean body condition in late pregnancy.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
McNeill DM, Kelly RW, Williams IH (1997b) Insulin sensitivity and fetal growth in ewes maintained in moderate body condition compared with a lean body condition in late pregnancy. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 48, 753–758.
| Insulin sensitivity and fetal growth in ewes maintained in moderate body condition compared with a lean body condition in late pregnancy.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK2sXls1yltrk%3D&md5=7a9705c56b12b29380d4b6067419b1c4CAS |
Molina A, Gallego L, Perez JI, Bernabeu R (1991) Growth of Manchega lambs in relation to body condition of dam, season of birth, type of birth and sex. Avances en Alimentacion y Mejora Animal 31, 198–202.
Morris ST, Kenyon PR (2004) The effect of litter size and sward height on ewe and lamb performance. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 47, 275–286.
| The effect of litter size and sward height on ewe and lamb performance.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Morris ST, Parker WJ, Blair HT, McCutcheon SN (1993a) Effect of sward height during late pregnancy on intake and performance of continuously stocked June- and August-lambing ewes. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 44, 1635–1651.
| Effect of sward height during late pregnancy on intake and performance of continuously stocked June- and August-lambing ewes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Morris ST, Parker WJ, Burnham DL, Jenkinson CMC, McCutcheon SN (1993b) Herbage allowance-intake-production relationships in continuously stocked winter- and spring-lambing ewes. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 53, 11–14.
Morris ST, McCutcheon SN, Parker WJ, Blair HT (1994) Effects of sward height on herbage intake and performance of lactating ewes lambed in winter and continuously stocked on pasture. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 122, 471–482.
| Effects of sward height on herbage intake and performance of lactating ewes lambed in winter and continuously stocked on pasture.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Nicol AM, Brookes IM (2007) The metabolisable energy requirements of grazing livestock. In ‘Pasture and supplements for grazing animals’. Occasional Publication No. 14. (Eds PV Rattray, IM Brookes, AM Nicol) pp. 151–172. (New Zealand Society of Animal Production: Hamilton, New Zealand)
Oldham CM, Thompson AN, Ferguson MB, Gordon DJ, Kearney GA, Paganoni BL (2011) The birth weight and survival of Merino lambs can be predicted from the profile of liveweight change of their mothers during pregnancy. Animal Production Science 51, 776–783.
| The birth weight and survival of Merino lambs can be predicted from the profile of liveweight change of their mothers during pregnancy.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Osgerby JC, Gadd TS, Wathes DC (2003) The effects of maternal nutrition and body condition on placental and foetal growth in the ewe. Placenta 24, 236–247.
| The effects of maternal nutrition and body condition on placental and foetal growth in the ewe.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXptlOltw%3D%3D&md5=9478d1591783a868ad3d3141e963b84eCAS |
Rattray PV, Garrett WN, East NE, Hinman N (1974) Growth, development and composition of the ovine conceptus and mammary gland during pregnancy. Journal of Animal Science 38, 613–626.
Rozeboom KJ, Neale BD, Darroch CS (2007) Relationships among ewe body condition scores, lamb vigour, colostral quality, milk composition and reproductive performance. Journal of Animal Science 85, 138
Russel AJF, Foot JZ, White IR, Davies GJ (1981) The effect of weight at mating and of nutrition during mid-pregnancy on the birthweight of lambs from primiparous ewes. The Journal of Agricultural Science 97, 723–729.
| The effect of weight at mating and of nutrition during mid-pregnancy on the birthweight of lambs from primiparous ewes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Thompson AN, Ferguson MB, Gordon DJ, Kearney GA, Oldham CM, Paganoni BL (2011) Improving the nutrition of Merino ewes during pregnancy increases the fleece weight and reduces the fibre diameter of their progeny’s wool during their lifetime and these effects can be predicted from the ewe’s liveweight profile. Animal Production Science 51, 794–804.
| Improving the nutrition of Merino ewes during pregnancy increases the fleece weight and reduces the fibre diameter of their progeny’s wool during their lifetime and these effects can be predicted from the ewe’s liveweight profile.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
van der Linden D, Kenyon PR, Blair HT, Lopez-Villalobos N, Jenkinson CMC, Peterson SW, MacKenzie DDS (2009) Effects of ewe size and nutrition on fetal mammary gland development and lactational performance of offspring at their first lactation. Journal of Animal Science 87, 3944–3954.
| Effects of ewe size and nutrition on fetal mammary gland development and lactational performance of offspring at their first lactation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1MXhsVOhs7bO&md5=fe2128227814cf19442c700807e806c7CAS |
Wilson JW, English PR, Macdonald DC, Bampton PR, Warren M, Birnie M, MacPherson O (1985) Factors influencing lamb growth rate in an upland flock of Blackface ewes producing Greyface lambs. Animal Production 40, 563
