The effect of peri-conceptual grazing of live pasture on fetal numbers in unsynchronised ewes
S. M. Robertson A B C , B. J. King A B , M. B. Allworth A , J. Rummery A and M. A. Friend A B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation (NSW Department of Primary Industries and Charles Sturt University) Locked Bag 588, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2678, Australia.
B Co-operative Research Centre for Future Farm Industries, University of Western Australian, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: surobertson@csu.edu.au
Animal Production Science 54(8) 1008-1015 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN13086
Submitted: 7 March 2013 Accepted: 3 October 2013 Published: 26 November 2013
Abstract
Methods of increasing the number of lambs born per ewe that avoid the use of pharmaceutical methods of oestrus synchronisation but which require a short period of increased nutrition are desirable. Four separate experiments evaluated whether peri-conceptual grazing of lucerne, compared with senescent herbage or other live herbage, increased fetal numbers in unsynchronised ewes. Merino ewes that grazed lucerne pasture for 7 days before joining and for the first 7 days of a 5–6-week joining produced up to 21 extra (P < 0.05) fetuses per 100 ewes joined, compared with ewes grazing cereal stubble with minimal live herbage (Experiment 2). In Experiments 1, 3 and 4, Merino or First Cross ewes grazing either cereal stubbles or phalaris pasture with as little as 200 kg DM/ha of live herbage produced a similar (P > 0.05) number of fetuses per ewe joined as those grazing on lucerne, either because this quantity of live feed was sufficient to increase fetal numbers, or because, for Experiment 3, First Cross ewes may not have responded at the commencement of the breeding season. It is concluded that grazing live pasture for 7 days before joining and for the first 7 days of joining during the breeding season can substantially increase fetal numbers in unsynchronised ewes compared with ewes grazing stubbles containing no live herbage. The response appears to occur on a range of plant species, and a small quantity of live herbage can elicit a response. Grazing lucerne in the peri-conceptual period did not increase (P > 0.05) the proportion of non-pregnant ewes. Further studies are required to determine how early in the breeding season ewes with a distinct breeding season will respond to nutritional manipulation.
References
Cayley JWD, Bird PR (1996) ‘Techniques for measuring pastures.’ (Agriculture Victoria: Hamilton)Croker KP, Johns MA, Johnson TJ (1985) Reproductive performance of Merino ewes supplemented with sweet lupin seed in southern Western Australia. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 25, 21–26.
| Reproductive performance of Merino ewes supplemented with sweet lupin seed in southern Western Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gherardi P, Lindsay D (1982) Response of ewes to lupin supplementation at different times of the breeding season. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 22, 264–267.
| Response of ewes to lupin supplementation at different times of the breeding season.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Haydock KP, Shaw NH (1975) The comparative yield method for estimating dry matter yield of pasture. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture and Animal Husbandry 15, 663–670.
Jefferies BC (1961) Body condition scoring and its use in management. Tasmanian Journal of Agriculture 32, 19–21.
King BJ, Robertson SM, Friend MA, Wilkins JF (2010) Short-term grazing of lucerne and chicory increases ovulation rate in synchronised Merino ewes. Animal Reproduction Science 121, 242–248.
| Short-term grazing of lucerne and chicory increases ovulation rate in synchronised Merino ewes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BC3cfgtVWlsg%3D%3D&md5=412f223d516973d41b5e09db87d2e82bCAS | 20678872PubMed |
Knight TW, Oldham CM, Lindsay DR (1975) Studies in ovine infertility in agricultural regions of Western Australia: the influence of a supplement of lupins (Lupinus angustifolius cv. Uniwhite) at joining on the reproductive performance of ewes. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 26, 567–575.
| Studies in ovine infertility in agricultural regions of Western Australia: the influence of a supplement of lupins (Lupinus angustifolius cv. Uniwhite) at joining on the reproductive performance of ewes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Leury BJ, Murray PJ, Rowe JB (1990) Effect of nutrition on the response in ovulation rate in Merino ewes following short-term lupin supplementation and insulin administration. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 41, 751–759.
| Effect of nutrition on the response in ovulation rate in Merino ewes following short-term lupin supplementation and insulin administration.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK3cXmtlSitLg%3D&md5=46e20b047f726c19ccd2c2b237d3a4a8CAS |
Lightfoot RJ, Marshall T, Croker KP (1976) Effects of rate and duration of lupin grain supplementation on ovulation and fertility of Merino ewes. Proceedings of the Australian Society of Animal Production 11, 5
Mannetje L, Haydock KP (1963) The dry-weight-rank method for the botanical analysis of pasture. Journal of the British Grassland Society 18, 268–275.
| The dry-weight-rank method for the botanical analysis of pasture.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Martin GB, Kadokawa H (2006) Clean, green and ethical animal production. Case study: reproductive efficiency in small ruminants. The Journal of Reproduction and Development 52, 145–152.
| Clean, green and ethical animal production. Case study: reproductive efficiency in small ruminants.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 16538033PubMed |
McEvoy TG, Robinson JJ, Aitken RP, Findlay PA, Robertson IS (1997) Dietary excesses of urea influence the viability and metabolism of preimplantation sheep embryos and may affect fetal growth among survivors. Animal Reproduction Science 47, 71–90.
| Dietary excesses of urea influence the viability and metabolism of preimplantation sheep embryos and may affect fetal growth among survivors.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK2sXksVSrt7g%3D&md5=e0e1e03acee92fa3280db98a1564e183CAS | 9233507PubMed |
Min BR, McNabb WC, Barry TN, Kemp PD, Waghorn GC, McDonald MF (1999) The effect of condensed tannins in Lotus corniculatus upon reproductive efficiency and wool production in sheep during late summer and autumn. The Journal of Agricultural Science 132, 323–334.
| The effect of condensed tannins in Lotus corniculatus upon reproductive efficiency and wool production in sheep during late summer and autumn.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK1MXlt1ygsLw%3D&md5=6c45122df201777e2b3b2d6a1e469451CAS |
Mulholland J, Coombe J, Freer M, McManus W (1976) An evaluation of cereal stubbles for sheep production. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 27, 881–893.
| An evaluation of cereal stubbles for sheep production.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Nottle MB, Seamark RF, Setchell BP (1990) Feeding lupin grain for six days prior to a cloprostenol-induced luteolysis can increase ovulation rate in sheep irrespective of when in the oestrous cycle supplementation commences. Reproduction, Fertility and Development 2, 189–192.
| Feeding lupin grain for six days prior to a cloprostenol-induced luteolysis can increase ovulation rate in sheep irrespective of when in the oestrous cycle supplementation commences.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK38Xlt1Cku78%3D&md5=b0c60177af0f1797ed5bb7a4476122b9CAS |
Nottle MB, Kleeman DO, Seamark RF (1997) Effect of previous undernutrition on the ovulation rate of merino ewes supplemented with lupin grain. Animal Reproduction Science 49, 29–36.
| Effect of previous undernutrition on the ovulation rate of merino ewes supplemented with lupin grain.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaK1c7itVGlug%3D%3D&md5=4ddd9af86dec7ac501c39aa27eb64538CAS | 9458947PubMed |
Packham A, Triffitt L (1966) Association of ovulation rate and twinning in Merino sheep. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 17, 515–520.
| Association of ovulation rate and twinning in Merino sheep.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Parr R (1992) Nutrition-progesterone interactions during early pregnancy in sheep. Reproduction, Fertility and Development 4, 297–300.
| Nutrition-progesterone interactions during early pregnancy in sheep.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK3sXjtlShsA%3D%3D&md5=fa17ded81c85db4ff6c06a7ebf352424CAS |
Payne RW, Harding SA, Murray DA, Soutar DM, Baird DB, Welham SJ, Kane AF, Gilmour AR, Thompson R, Webster R, Tunnicliffe Wilson G (2006) ‘Genstat. Release 9.’ (Lawes Agricultural Trust: Rothamstead)
Ramírez-Restrepo CA, Barry TN, Lopez-Villalobos N, Kemp PD, Harvey TG (2005) Use of Lotus corniculatus containing condensed tannins to increase reproductive efficiency in ewes under commercial dryland farming conditions. Animal Feed Science and Technology 121, 23–43.
| Use of Lotus corniculatus containing condensed tannins to increase reproductive efficiency in ewes under commercial dryland farming conditions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Rizzoli DJ, Baxter R, Reeve JL, Cumming IA (1976) Effect of lupin grain supplementation on ovulation rate in Border Leicester x Merino ewes. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 46, 518–519.
| Effect of lupin grain supplementation on ovulation rate in Border Leicester x Merino ewes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaE287ks1ehtw%3D%3D&md5=35d9f0d736700df253d92356eb0d3f40CAS | 1255614PubMed |
Robinson JJ, Ashworth CJ, Rooke JA, Mitchell LM, McEvoy TG (2006) Nutrition and fertility in ruminant livestock. Animal Feed Science and Technology 126, 259–276.
| Nutrition and fertility in ruminant livestock.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
SCA (Ed.) (1990) ‘Feeding standards for Australian livestock: ruminants.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne)
Scaramuzzi RJ, Campbell BK, Downing JA, Kendall NR, Khalid M, Munoz-Gutierrez M, Somchit A (2006) A review of the effects of supplementary nutrition in the ewe on the concentrations of reproductive and metabolic hormones and the mechanisms that regulate folliculogenesis and ovulation rate. Reproduction, Nutrition, Development 46, 339–354.
| A review of the effects of supplementary nutrition in the ewe on the concentrations of reproductive and metabolic hormones and the mechanisms that regulate folliculogenesis and ovulation rate.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD28XhtVOnsrzF&md5=b3b7b3456e2ca967271db90b03495700CAS | 16824444PubMed |
Smith JF, Stewart JF (1990) Effects of nutrition on the ovulation rate of ewes. In ‘Reproductive physiology of Merino sheep – concepts and consequences’. (Eds CM Oldham, GB Martin, IW Purvis) pp. 85–101. (School of Agriculture (Animal Science), The University of Western Australia: Perth)
Stewart R, Oldham CM (1986) Feeding lupins to ewes for four days during the luteal phase can increase ovulation rate. Proceedings of the Australian Society of Animal Production 16, 367–370.
Teleni E, Rowe JB, Croker KP, Murray PJ, King WR (1989) Lupins and energy-yielding nutrients in ewes. II Responses in ovulation rate in ewes to increased availability of glucose, acetate and amino acids. Reproduction, Fertility and Development 1, 117–125.
| Lupins and energy-yielding nutrients in ewes. II Responses in ovulation rate in ewes to increased availability of glucose, acetate and amino acids.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK38XlsV2qtrw%3D&md5=cb85054a266ad3898c413ed919d8ab61CAS |
Viñoles C, Forsberg M, Martin GB, Cajarville C, Repetto J, Meikle A (2005) Short-term nutritional supplementation of ewes in low body condition affects follicle development due to an increase in glucose and metabolic hormones. Reproduction (Cambridge, England) 129, 299–309.
| Short-term nutritional supplementation of ewes in low body condition affects follicle development due to an increase in glucose and metabolic hormones.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Viñoles C, Meikle A, Martin GB (2009) Short-term nutritional treatments grazing legumes or feeding concentrates increase prolificacy in Corriedale ewes. Animal Reproduction Science 113, 82–92.
| Short-term nutritional treatments grazing legumes or feeding concentrates increase prolificacy in Corriedale ewes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 18639397PubMed |
Wilkins JF (1997) Method of stimulating ovulation rate in merino ewes may affect conception but not embryo survival. Animal Reproduction Science 47, 31–42.
| Method of stimulating ovulation rate in merino ewes may affect conception but not embryo survival.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaK2sznsl2jtg%3D%3D&md5=4628e19e12d3dca3972bcda5ea9deeefCAS | 9233504PubMed |
