Effect of nutrition of ewe weaners on production in the first adult year

Abstract

Three groups of 135 ewe weaners were grazed for twelve months following weaning in December at high, medium or low stocking rates. No attempt was made to limit growth of any groups during the spring pasture flush. At 16 months of age three adult stocking rate groups were formed by proportional representation from the weaner groups. The weaner phase treatments induced marked differences in patterns of growth and wool production in the weaner phase. The low plane and high plane weaners differed by 10.3 kg liveweight at the end of July and by 5.0 kg at the end of the weaner phase (December). Weaner wool production differed among groups by 0.8 kg (Clean). In the following year residual effects of weaner nutrition on liveweight were small, but statistically significant for the first eight months. However, weaner nutrition had no subsequent effect on the production of wool or lambs.