Changes in face cover of fine wool Merino ewes associated with season and time of lambing

Abstract

Face cover scores were recorded for two groups of fine-wool Merino ewes that were 4-5 years old and lambed in April and October 1963 respectively. Each group was scored at mating, six weeks before lambing, at lambing, and at weaning. As indicated by the change in score of dry ewes, both groups showed a seasonal peak score in August with the lowest score in March for the November mated group and in May for the May mated group. Pregnancy did not reduce face cover of the group mated in November. However, pregnancy did reduce face cover of ewes mating in May, with a larger effect for multiple pregnancies. Lactation also reduced the face cover score of both groups. There was no association between face cover and fertility either at mating or at lambing for ewes mating in November; face cover and fertility were related (P<0.01) at lambing for ewes mating in May, however the association was not significant at mating.