Shearing ewes in the first third of gestation improves offspring performance
C. López-Mazz A E , F. Baldi B , G. Quintans C and G. Banchero DA School of Agronomy, UDELAR, Av. Garzón 780, 12900, Uruguay.
B School of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary, Sao Pablo, 11884100 Brazil.
C National Institute for Agricultural Research, Ruta 8, km 281, Treinta y Tres, Uruguay 33000.
D National Institute for Agricultural Research, Ruta 50, km 11, Colonia, Uruguay 70006.
E Corresponding author. Email: tatolopezmazz@gmail.com
Animal Production Science 58(10) 1908-1914 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN16461
Submitted: 15 July 2016 Accepted: 20 March 2017 Published: 26 May 2017
Abstract
The effect of shearing ewes at 50 days of gestation on birth and weaning weight, vigour of the lambs in the first hour of life and the survival of single and twin lambs was investigated. Ultrasound pregnancy diagnosis was used to allocate 140 Polwarth ewes on Day 50 of gestation to one of four treatments, including two factors: shearing time (prepartum (PS) and postpartum (U)) and litter size (single (S) and twin (T)) resulting in the following treatments: single-bearing ewes shorn at 50 days of gestation (SPS, n = 39), single-bearing ewes unshorn (SU, n = 40), twin-bearing ewes shorn at 50 days of gestation (TPS, n = 28) and twin-bearing ewes unshorn (TU, n = 33). All ewes grazed together on improved pastures. Body condition score of the ewes was recorded once every 2 weeks from shearing until weaning, and plasma concentration of NEFA in ewes was measured once every 2 weeks from Day 30 postpartum until weaning (Day 104 ± 7). Gestation length, lamb behaviour during the first hour of life, lamb weight at birth and daily weight gain from birth to weaning and lamb survival were measured. Ewe body condition and plasma non-esterified fatty acids concentration was not affected by shearing time or litter size. Birthweight of the lambs was affected by shearing time (P = 0.0002), litter size (P < 0.0001) and sex of the lamb (P = 0.03). Lambs born to PS ewes had higher daily growth rate (P < 0.0001) than lambs born to U ewes (0.149 ± 0.07 vs 0.141 ± 0.07 kg, respectively). Birthweight affected the number of assisted lambs at birth (P = 0.01). Length of gestation was affected by shearing time (P < 0.0001). Sucking ability was improved by shearing time and litter size. Lambs born to PS ewes tried to suck (P = 0.01) and successfully sucked (P = 0.009) before lambs born to U ewes (23.3 ± 2 vs 28.7 ± 2 and 37.6 ± 1 vs 38.4 ± 1 min, respectively). Attempt and success to suck was affected by litter size (P = 0.004 and P = 0.05). TPS-born lambs tried to suck before (P = 0.004) and successfully sucked earlier (P = 0.0004) than TU lambs (26.1 ± 2.5 vs 33.7 ± 2 and 38 ± 1 vs 42.1 ± 2 min, respectively). Shearing time affected lamb survival at 20 days of age (P = 0.04). The improved survival in these lambs, expressed by a higher birthweight and vigour at birth, may be explained by better nutrition in utero in response to shearing during early pregnancy. In contrast to previous research on prepartum shearing, the present experiment shearing was done at 50 days of gestation. Early shearing in gestation might coincide with a period of high cell proliferation, intense vascular development and increased uterine and umbilical blood flows in the placenta which is in rapid development, and may result in improved outcomes when compared with shearing done on Day 70 or later of gestation.
Additional keywords: environmental stress, lamb growth, lamb survival.
References
Alexander G, Poindron P, Le Neindre P, Stevens D, Lévy F, Bradley L (1986) Importance of the first hour postpartum for exclusive maternal bonding in sheep. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 16, 295–300.| Importance of the first hour postpartum for exclusive maternal bonding in sheep.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Banchero G, Delucci M, Fernández EM, Quintans G (2005) Milk production and quality of maternal biotypes: Ideal×Ideal, Ideal×Ile de France, Ideal×Milchschaf and Ideal×Texel. Technical update seminar: sheep breeding: recent advances made by INIA. pp. 43–48. (National Institute of Agricultural Research (INIA): Montevideo, Uruguay)
Banchero G, Vázquez A, Montossi F, De Barbieri I, Quintans G (2010) Pre-partum shearing of ewes under pastoral conditions improves the early vigour of both single and twin lambs. Animal Production Science 50, 309–314.
| Pre-partum shearing of ewes under pastoral conditions improves the early vigour of both single and twin lambs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Cam MA, Kuran M (2004) Shearing pregnant ewes to improve lamb birth weight increases milk yield of ewes and lamb weaning weight. Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences 17, 1669–1673.
| Shearing pregnant ewes to improve lamb birth weight increases milk yield of ewes and lamb weaning weight.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Cloete SWP, Van Niekerk FE, Van der Merwe GD (1994) The effect of shearing pregnant ewes prior to a winter-lambing season on ewe and lamb performance in the southern Cape. South African Journal of Animal Science 24, 140–142.
Corner RA, Kenyon PR, Stafford KJ, West DM, Oliver MH (2010) The effect of different types of stressors during mid and late pregnancy on lamb weight and body size at birth. Animal 4, 2065–2070.
| The effect of different types of stressors during mid and late pregnancy on lamb weight and body size at birth.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BC38vpt1KntQ%3D%3D&md5=d6a75e543f9a4ea57b3f4961e6ec0acaCAS |
Dalton DC, Knight TW, Johnson DL (1980) Lamb survival in sheep breeds on New Zealand hill country. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 23, 167–173.
| Lamb survival in sheep breeds on New Zealand hill country.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
de Barbieri I, Montossi F, Dighiero A, Martínez H, Nolla M, Luzardo S, Mederos A, Zamit W, Levratto J, Frugoni J, Lima G, Costales J (2005a) Alternativas de la esquila preparto temprana. Evaluación del impacto del tipo de peine. In ‘Seminario de Actualización técnica: reproducción ovina. Recientes avances realizados por el INIA, Uruguay’. Serie de actividades de Difusión 401, 104–114. (National Institute of Agricultural Research (INIA) Treinta y Tres y Tacuarembó: Tacuarembó, Uruguay)
de Barbieri I, Montossi F, Digiero M, Nolla M, Luzardo S, Martínez H, Zamit W, Levratto J, Frugoni J (2005b) Largo de gestación de ovejas Corriedale: efecto de la esquila preparto temprana. In ‘Seminario de Actualización técnica: reproducción ovina. Recientes avances realizados por el INIA, Uruguay’. Serie de actividades de Difusión 401, 115–121. (National Institute of Agricultural Research (INIA) Treinta y Tres y Tacuarembó: Uruguay)
Dove H (1988) Estimation of the intake of milk by lambs, from the turnover of deuterium- or tritium-labelled water. British Journal of Nutrition 60, 375–387.
| Estimation of the intake of milk by lambs, from the turnover of deuterium- or tritium-labelled water.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaL1M%2Fmt1ertQ%3D%3D&md5=e61f30ccc852d24a2496a1b96a869f94CAS |
Dwyer CM, Morgan CA (2006) Maintenance of body temperature in the neonatal lamb: effects of breed, birth weight, and litter size. Journal of Animal Science 84, 1093–1101.
| Maintenance of body temperature in the neonatal lamb: effects of breed, birth weight, and litter size.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD28Xkt1Gls7c%3D&md5=baf228b44b4e0ba0ceac6b90d8545149CAS |
Dwyer CM, Lawrence AB, Brown HE, Simm G (1996) Effect of ewe and lamb genotype on gestation length lambing ease and neonatal behaviour of lambs. Reproduction, Fertility and Development 8, 1123–1129.
| Effect of ewe and lamb genotype on gestation length lambing ease and neonatal behaviour of lambs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaK2s7js1Squg%3D%3D&md5=2efc4408e6dad2b24f0530a7efe65e20CAS |
Ehrhardt RA, Bell AW (1995) Growth and metabolism of the ovine placenta during mid-gestation. Placenta 16, 727–741.
| Growth and metabolism of the ovine placenta during mid-gestation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK28Xht1CmsLs%3D&md5=d8b073270d8cf079883f82809b5b2583CAS |
Jopson NB, Davis GH, Farquahar PA, Bain WE (2002) Effects of mid pregnancy nutrition and shearing on ewe body reserves and foetal growth. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 62, 49–52.
Kelly RW (1992) Nutrition and placental development. Proc. Nutr. Soc. Aust 17, 203–210.
Kenyon PR, Morris ST, Revell DK, McCutcheon SN (1999) Improving lamb birth weight through mid to late-pregnancy shearing: a review of recent studies. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 59, 70–72.
Kenyon PR, Morris ST, Revell DK, McCutcheon SN (2002a) Maternal constraint and the birth weight response to mid-pregnancy shearing. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 53, 511–517.
| Maternal constraint and the birth weight response to mid-pregnancy shearing.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kenyon PR, Morris ST, McCutcheon SN (2002b) Does an increase in lamb birth weight through mid-pregnancy shearing necessarily mean an increase in lamb survival rates to weaning? Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 62, 53–56.
Kenyon PR, Morris ST, Revell DK, McCutcheon SN (2003) Shearing during pregnancy- a review of a policy to increase birthweight and survival of lambs in New Zealand pastoral farming systems. New Zealand Veterinary Journal 51, 200–207.
| Shearing during pregnancy- a review of a policy to increase birthweight and survival of lambs in New Zealand pastoral farming systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD2MznsVantA%3D%3D&md5=a8f251700092f7b03ebe271af1207e23CAS |
Kenyon PR, Revell DK, Morris ST (2006a) Mid-pregnancy shearing can increase birthweight and survival to weaning of multiple- born lambs under commercial conditions. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 46, 821–825.
| Mid-pregnancy shearing can increase birthweight and survival to weaning of multiple- born lambs under commercial conditions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Montossi F, de Barbieri I, Digiero A, Martínez H, Nolla M, Luzardo S, Mederos A, San Julian R, Zamit R, Levratto W, Frugoni J, Lima G, Costales J (2005) La esquila preparto temprana: una nueva opción para la mejora reproductiva ovina. In ‘Seminario de Actualización técnica: reproducción ovina. Recientes avances realizados por el INIA, Uruguay’. Serie de actividades de Difusión 401, 85–103. (National Institute of Agricultural Research (INIA): Treinta y Tres y Tacuarembó: Tacuarembó, Uruguay)
Morris ST, McCutcheon SN (1997) Selective enhancement of growth in twin foetuses by shearing ewes in early gestation. Animal Science 76, 215–238.
Morris ST, McCutcheon SN, Revell DK (2000) Birth weight responses to shearing ewes in early to mid gestation. Animal Science 70, 363–369.
| Birth weight responses to shearing ewes in early to mid gestation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Nowak R, Pascal P (2006) From birth to colostrum: early steps leading to lamb survival. Reproduction, Nutrition, Development 46, 431–446.
| From birth to colostrum: early steps leading to lamb survival.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Osgerby JC, Wathes DC, Howard D, Gadd TS (2002) The effect of maternal undernutrition on ovine fetal growth. The Journal of Endocrinology 173, 131–141.
| The effect of maternal undernutrition on ovine fetal growth.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38Xjt1ejtr4%3D&md5=bff5112a624ff514e39a216b22ea0cf1CAS |
Quintans G, Banchero G, Carriquiry M, López-Mazz C, Baldi F (2010) Effect of body condition and suckling restriction with and without presence of the calf on cow and calf performance. Animal Production Science 50, 931–938.
| Effect of body condition and suckling restriction with and without presence of the calf on cow and calf performance.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3cXhtlWmtLfO&md5=f1fb8a647363069c0a474afc168de2beCAS |
Revell DK, Morris ST, Cottam YH, Hanna JE, Thomas DG, Brown S, McCutcheon SN (2002) Shearing ewes at mid-pregnancy is associated with changes in fetal growth. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 53, 697–705.
| Shearing ewes at mid-pregnancy is associated with changes in fetal growth.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Reynolds LP, Borowicz PP, Vonnahme KA, Johnson ML, Grazul-Bilska AT, Redmer DA, Caton JS (2005) Placental angiogenesis in sheep models of compromised pregnancy. The Journal of Physiology 565, 43–58.
| Placental angiogenesis in sheep models of compromised pregnancy.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2MXkslyru7w%3D&md5=ffc696dd6dd209fa3125d8c4487e3b48CAS |
Russel AJF, Doney JM, Gunn RG (1969) Subjective assessment of body fat in live sheep. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 72, 451–454.
| Subjective assessment of body fat in live sheep.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Rutter W, Laird TR, Broadent PJ (1972) A note on the effects of clipping pregnant ewes at housing. Animal Production 14, 127–130.
| A note on the effects of clipping pregnant ewes at housing.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Smeaton DC, Webby RW, Tarbotton IS, Clayton JB (2000) The effects of shearing Finnish Landrace Romney ewes in mid-pregnancy on lamb survival, birthweight and other weights. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 45, 58–60.
Sphor L, Banchero G, Correa G, Osorio MTM, Quintans G (2011) Early prepartum shearing increases milk production of wool sheep and the weight of the lambs at birth and weaning. Small Ruminant Research 99, 44–47.
| Early prepartum shearing increases milk production of wool sheep and the weight of the lambs at birth and weaning.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Symonds ME, Bryant MJ, Lomax MA (1986) The effect of shearing on the energy metabolism of the pregnant ewe. British Journal of Nutrition 56, 635–643.
| The effect of shearing on the energy metabolism of the pregnant ewe.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaL28XmtVKqtro%3D&md5=1ee273f658c8cf9e717e106dc250a956CAS |
Thompson GE, Bassett JM, Samson DE, Slee J (1982) The effects of cold exposure of pregnant sheep on foetal plasma nutrients, hormones and birth weight. British Journal of Nutrition 48, 59–64.
| The effects of cold exposure of pregnant sheep on foetal plasma nutrients, hormones and birth weight.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaL38XkvV2mt7k%3D&md5=f36c93e3cb2e20acc803ccdc3372d7c4CAS |
Verbeek E, Oliver MH, Wass JR, McLeay LM, Blache D, Matthews LR (2012) Reduced cortisol and metabolic responses of thin ewes to an acute cold challenge in mid-pregnancy: implications for animal physiology and welfare. PLoS One 7, e37315
| Reduced cortisol and metabolic responses of thin ewes to an acute cold challenge in mid-pregnancy: implications for animal physiology and welfare.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC38Xot1Gjsr4%3D&md5=458a028fd054d2eaa3d90e186e49a33aCAS |
Vipond JE, King ME, Inglis DM, Hunter EA (1987) The effect of winter shearing of housed pregnant ewes on food intake and animal performance. Animal Production 45, 211–221.
| The effect of winter shearing of housed pregnant ewes on food intake and animal performance.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Vonnahme KA (2012) How the maternal environment impacts fetal and placental development: implications for livestock production. Animal Reproduction 9, 789–797.
Wolfinger R, O’Connell M (1993) Generalized linear mixed models a pseudo-likelihood approach. Journal of Statistical Computation and Simulation 48, 233–243.
| Generalized linear mixed models a pseudo-likelihood approach.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
