The birthweight and survival of Merino lambs can be predicted from the profile of liveweight change of their mothers during pregnancy
C. M. Oldham A G , A. N. Thompson B C D , M. B. Ferguson B C C , D. J. Gordon B E , G. A. Kearney B F and B. L. Paganoni AA Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia, 3 Baron-Hay Court, South Perth, WA 6151, Australia.
B Department of Primary Industries Victoria, Private Bag 105, Hamilton, Vic. 3300, Australia.
C Present address: Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia, 3 Baron-Hay Court, South Perth, WA 6151, Australia.
D Present address: School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia.
E Present address: Rural Industries Skills Training, Private Bag 105, Hamilton, Vic. 3300, Australia.
F Present address: 36 Payne Road, Hamilton, Vic. 3300, Australia.
G Corresponding author. Email: chris.oldham@agric.wa.gov.au
Animal Production Science 51(9) 776-783 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN10155
Submitted: 24 August 2010 Accepted: 12 July 2011 Published: 14 September 2011
Journal Compilation © CSIRO Publishing 2011 Open Access CC BY-NC-ND
Abstract
The single largest influence on the survival of lambs in the first few days of life is their birthweight. Fetal growth and birthweight are regulated by genotype of the fetus, maternal genotype, maternal nutrition and the external environment. In this paper we report the extent to which the changes in maternal liveweight during pregnancy and lactation (liveweight profile) of Merino ewes can be used to predict the birthweight and survival of their progeny to weaning. At two sites [Victoria (Vic.) ~700 ewes and Western Australia (WA) ~300 ewes] in each of 2 years, a similar experiment used adult Merino ewes to explore effects of nutrition from joining to Day 100 of pregnancy and from Day 100 of pregnancy to weaning. The average difference between extreme treatments at Day 100 of pregnancy were 7 kg in ewe liveweight and 0.7 of a condition score (CS) and at lambing 11.9 kg and 1.3 of a CS. This resulted in average birthweights of progeny from different treatments ranging from 4.0 to 5.4 kg and survival to weaning ranging from 68 to 92%. Across the four experiments between 68 and 85% of all lamb deaths to weaning occurred within 48 h of birth. Lambs born to ewes in CS 2 at Day 100 of pregnancy were lighter (P < 0.05) in both years at the Vic. site than those from ewes in CS 3 at Day 100 of pregnancy. Lambs born to the ewes grazing a feed on offer of 800 kg DM/ha during late pregnancy were also lighter than those from other levels of feed on offer between 1100 and 3000 kg DM/ha at the Vic. site in both years and at the WA site in 1 year (P < 0.001). Lambs from the 800 kg DM/ha treatment during late pregnancy at the Vic. site had a lower survival than other treatments, especially in the second year. There were no significant effects of treatments on lamb survival at the WA site; however, the results were in the same direction. The birthweight of individual lambs was significantly related to the liveweight profile of their mothers. Their liveweight at joining, change in liveweight to Day 100 of pregnancy and change in liveweight from Day 100 to lambing all contributed (P < 0.05) to the prediction of the birthweight of their lambs. The responses were consistent across experimental sites and years, lamb birth rank and sex, and confirmed that the effects of poor nutrition up until Day 100 of pregnancy could be completely overcome by improving nutrition during late pregnancy. At the Vic. site, survival to 48 h was most influenced by the birthweight of the lamb and survival was significantly higher in single- than twin-born lambs and female than male lambs after adjusting for differences in birthweight. A higher chill index during the 48 h after birth reduced survival of both single and twin lambs to a similar extent, but reduced survival of male lambs more than female lambs. There were no effects of birthweight or chill index on lamb survival at the WA site where most lambs weighed more than 4 kg at birth and climatic conditions during lambing were less extreme. Overall, these results supported our hypothesis that improving the nutrition of Merino ewes during pregnancy increases birthweight and this leads to improved survival of their progeny.
References
Alexander G (1962) Temperature regulation in the new-born lamb. IV. The effect of wind and evaporation of water from the coat on metabolic rate and body temperature. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 13, 82–99.| Temperature regulation in the new-born lamb. IV. The effect of wind and evaporation of water from the coat on metabolic rate and body temperature.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Alexander G, Lynch JJ, Mottershead BE, Donnelly JB (1980) Reduction in lamb mortality by means of grass wind-breaks: results of a five-year study. Proceedings of the Australian Society of Animal Production 13, 329–332.
Atkins KD (1980) The comparative productivity of five ewe breeds. 1. Lamb growth and survival. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture and Animal Husbandry 20, 272–279.
| The comparative productivity of five ewe breeds. 1. Lamb growth and survival.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Behrendt R, van Burgel AJ, Bailey A, Barber P, Curnow M, Gordon DJ, Hocking Edwards JE, Oldham CM, Thompson AN (2011) On-farm paddock-scale comparisons across southern Australia confirm that increasing the nutrition of Merino ewes improves their production and the lifetime performance of their progeny. Animal Production Science 51, 805–812.
| On-farm paddock-scale comparisons across southern Australia confirm that increasing the nutrition of Merino ewes improves their production and the lifetime performance of their progeny.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Cayley JWD, Bird PR (1996) Techniques for measuring pastures. Technical Report Series No. 191, Victorian Department of Agriculture, Melbourne.
Donnelly JR (1984) The productivity of breeding ewes grazing on lucerne or grass and clover pastures on the tablelands of southern Australia. Lamb mortality and weaning percentage. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 35, 709–721.
| The productivity of breeding ewes grazing on lucerne or grass and clover pastures on the tablelands of southern Australia. Lamb mortality and weaning percentage.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Dwyer CM (2003) Behavioural development in the neonatal lamb: effects of maternal and birth related factors. Theriogenology 59, 1027–1050.
| Behavioural development in the neonatal lamb: effects of maternal and birth related factors.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD3s%2Fht1WntQ%3D%3D&md5=8b29d9915ee66fabcc43c73809d3ab48CAS |
Ferguson MB, Thompson AN, Gordon DJ, Hyder MW, Kearney GA, Oldham CM, Paganoni BL (2011) The wool production and reproduction of Merino ewes can be predicted from changes in liveweight during pregnancy and lactation. Animal Production Science 51, 763–775.
| The wool production and reproduction of Merino ewes can be predicted from changes in liveweight during pregnancy and lactation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Fogarty NM, Hall DG, Holst PJ (1992) The effect of nutrition in mid pregnancy and ewe liveweight change on birth weight and management for lamb survival in highly fecund ewes. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 32, 1–10.
| The effect of nutrition in mid pregnancy and ewe liveweight change on birth weight and management for lamb survival in highly fecund ewes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gardner DS, Buttery PJ, Daniel Z, Symonds ME (2007) Factors affecting birth weight in sheep: maternal environment. Reproduction (Cambridge, England) 133, 297–307.
| Factors affecting birth weight in sheep: maternal environment.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2sXjs1ais78%3D&md5=fa30903aaa60dc2ac268382e478fb45eCAS |
Genstat Committee (2008) ‘Genstat for Windows.’ 11th edn. (VSN International: Hertfordshire, UK)
Greenwood PL, Thompson AN, Ford SP (2010) Postnatal consequences of the maternal environment and of growth during prenatal life for productivity of ruminants. In ‘Managing the prenatal environment to enhance livestock productivity’. (Eds PL Greenwood, AW Bell, PE Vercoe, GJ Viljoen) pp. 3–36. (Springer: Dordrecht, The Netherlands)
Hatcher S, Atkins KD, Safari E (2009) Phenotypic aspects of lamb survival in Australia Merino sheep. Journal of Animal Science 87, 2781–2790.
| Phenotypic aspects of lamb survival in Australia Merino sheep.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1MXhtFSqu7nJ&md5=605bb12be9a3b72710905490e1094dc9CAS |
Hight GK, Jury KE (1970) Hill country sheep production. II. Lamb mortality and birth weights in Romney and Border Leicester × Romney flocks. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 13, 735–752.
Hinch GN, Crosbie SF, Kelly RW, Owens JL, Davis GH (1985) Influence of birth weight and litter size on lamb survival in high fecundity Booroola-Merino flocks. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 28, 31–38.
Holst PJ, Killeen ID, Cullis BR (1986) Nutrition of the pregnant ewe and its effect on gestation length, lamb birth weight and lamb survival. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 37, 647–655.
| Nutrition of the pregnant ewe and its effect on gestation length, lamb birth weight and lamb survival.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Holst PJ, Allan AJ, Gilmour AR (1992) Effects of a restricted diet during mid pregnancy of ewes on uterine and foetal growth and lamb birth weight. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 43, 315–324.
| Effects of a restricted diet during mid pregnancy of ewes on uterine and foetal growth and lamb birth weight.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hyder MW, Thompson AN, Doyle PT, Tanaka K (2002) The response of broad and fine-wool Merino wethers to differential grazing of annual pastures during spring. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 12, 265–274.
Jefferies BC (1961) Body condition scoring and its use in management. Tasmanian Journal of Agriculture 32, 19–21.
Kelly RW (1992) Lamb mortality and growth to weaning in commercial Merino flocks in Western Australia. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 43, 1399–1416.
| Lamb mortality and growth to weaning in commercial Merino flocks in Western Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kelly RW, Newnham JP (1990) Nutrition of the pregnant ewe. In ‘Reproductive physiology of Merino sheep. Concepts and consequences’. (Eds CM Oldham, GB Martin, IW Purvis) pp. 161–168. (School of Agriculture (Animal Science), The University of Western Australia: Perth)
Knight TW, Lynch PR, Hall DRH, Hockey H-UP (1988) Identification of factors contributing to the lamb survival in Marshal Romney sheep. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 31, 259–271.
Lax J, Turner HN (1965) The influence of various factors on survival rate to weaning of Merino lambs. I. Sex, strain, location and age of ewe for single born lambs. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 16, 981–995.
| The influence of various factors on survival rate to weaning of Merino lambs. I. Sex, strain, location and age of ewe for single born lambs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lindsay DR, Nowak R, Putu IG, McNeill D (1990) Behavioural interactions between the ewe and her young at parturition: a vital step for the lamb. In ‘Reproductive physiology of Merino sheep. Concepts and consequences’. (Eds CM Oldham, GB Martin, IW Purvis) pp. 191–205. (School of Agriculture (Animal Science), The University of Western Australia: Perth)
Mellor DJ (1983) Nutritional and placental determinants of fetal growth rate in sheep and consequences for the newborn lamb. The British Veterinary Journal 139, 307–324.
Ponzoni RW, Grimson RJ, Jaensch KS, Smith DH, Hynd PI (1997) Birth coat: is it worth taking into consideration in Merino sheep genetic improvement programs? Wool Technology and Sheep Breeding 45, 12–26.
Safari E, Atkins KD, Fogarty NM, Gilmour AR (2005) Analysis of lamb survival in Australian Merino. Proceedings of the Association of the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics 16, 28–31.
Scales GH, Burton RN, Moss RA (1986) Lamb mortality, birth weight, and nutrition in late pregnancy. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 29, 75–82.
Schinckel PG (1955) Inheritance of birth coats in a strain of Merino sheep. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 6, 595–607.
| Inheritance of birth coats in a strain of Merino sheep.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Smith GM (1977) Factors affecting birth weight, dystocia and preweaning survival in sheep. Journal of Animal Science 44, 745–753.
Taplin DE, Everitt GC (1964) The influence of prenatal nutrition on postnatal performance of Merino lambs. Proceedings of the Australian Society of Animal Production 5, 72–88.
Thompson AN, Doyle PT, Grimm M (1994) Effects of differential grazing of annual pastures in spring on sheep and wool production. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 45, 367–389.
| Effects of differential grazing of annual pastures in spring on sheep and wool production.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Thompson AN, Hyder MW, Doyle PT (1997) Effects of differential grazing of annual pastures in spring and age of sheep on pasture and sheep production. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 37, 727–736.
| Effects of differential grazing of annual pastures in spring and age of sheep on pasture and sheep production.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 |
Wallace LR (1948) The growth of lambs before and after birth in relation to the level of nutrition. The Journal of Agricultural Science 38, 243–302.
| The growth of lambs before and after birth in relation to the level of nutrition.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wiener G, Woolliams C, Macleod NS (1983) The effects of breed, breeding system and other factors on lamb mortality. 1. Causes of death and effects on the incidence of losses. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 100, 539–551.
| The effects of breed, breeding system and other factors on lamb mortality. 1. Causes of death and effects on the incidence of losses.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Young JM, Thompson AN, Curnow M, Oldham CM (2011) Whole-farm profit and the optimum maternal liveweight profile of Merino ewe flocks lambing in winter and spring are influenced by the effects of ewe nutrition on the progeny’s survival and lifetime wool production. Animal Production Science 51, 821–833.
| Whole-farm profit and the optimum maternal liveweight profile of Merino ewe flocks lambing in winter and spring are influenced by the effects of ewe nutrition on the progeny’s survival and lifetime wool production.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
