Effects of twin-bearing ewe nutritional treatments on ewe and lamb performance to weaning
P. R. Kenyon A B C , S. J. Pain A B , P. G. Hutton A , C. M. C. Jenkinson A B , S. T. Morris A , S. W. Peterson A B and H. T. Blair A B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Sheep Research Centre, Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
B National Research Centre for Growth and Development, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand.
C Corresponding author. Email: p.r.kenyon@massey.ac.nz
Animal Production Science 51(5) 406-415 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN10184
Submitted: 22 September 2010 Accepted: 9 February 2011 Published: 5 May 2011
Abstract
Nutrition of the ewe at various stages of pregnancy is known to affect ewe and offspring performance. However, little is known regarding the potential interactions among differing maternal nutrition regimens in early and mid–late pregnancy. The objective of the present study was to examine the effects and potential interactions of three pastoral nutritional treatments from Day 21 of pregnancy (P21) to P50 (Sub-maintenanceP21–50 (total liveweight change achieved, SMP21-50, –0.15 ± 0.02 kg/day) v. MaintenanceP21–50 (MP21-50,–0.02 ± 0.02 kg/day) v. Ad libitumP21–50 (AdP21-50,0.15 ± 0.02 kg/day) and two pastoral nutritional treatments from P50 to P139 [MaintenanceP50–139 (designed to match change in conceptus mass, total liveweight change achieved, 0.19 ± 0.01 kg/day) v. Ad libitumP50–139 (0.26 ± 0.01 kg/day)] on 382 twin-bearing ewes and their offspring until 91 days after the mid-point of lambing (L91). Ewe liveweight and condition scores in pregnancy and lactation, and lamb liveweights, indices of colostrum uptake and survival were recorded. There were no interactions between nutritional periods for lamb liveweight, apparent colostrum intake and survival, and ewe liveweight, condition score and total weight of lamb per ewe at the end of the study. At L91, ewe nutritional treatment during P21–50 or P50–139 had no effect on either ewe liveweight or body condition score. Ewe nutritional treatment during P21–50 had no effect on lamb birthweight. Lambs born to AdP50–139 ewes were lighter (P < 0.05) than those born to MP50–139 ewes (5.32 ± 0.04 v. 5.48 ± 0.04 kg, respectively). Ewe nutritional treatment during P21–50 or P50–139 had no (P > 0.05) effect on indices of colostrum uptake in lambs at 24–36 h of age. At L91, ewe nutritional treatment during P21–50 or P50–139 had no effect on lamb liveweight, survival or total weight of lamb per ewe. In conclusion, although considerable differences in ewe liveweight were observed during pregnancy, the nutritional treatments had no effect on the production parameters measured at the end of the study. These results indicate, first, that farmers can use early pregnancy as a period to control ewe nutrition when ewes are offered at least pregnancy maintenance levels of nutrition in the mid–late pregnancy period and, second, that there is no advantage from offering twin-bearing ewes a level of nutrition above their pregnancy maintenance requirements in mid–late pregnancy.
References
Bielli A, Katz H, Pedrana G, Gastel MT, Morana A, Castrillejo A, Lundeheim N, Forsberg M, Rodrigues-Martinez H (2001) Nutritional management during fetal and postnatal life, and the influence on testicular stereology and sertoli cell numbers in Corriedale ram lambs. Small Ruminant Research 40, 63–71.| Nutritional management during fetal and postnatal life, and the influence on testicular stereology and sertoli cell numbers in Corriedale ram lambs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 11259877PubMed |
Bielli A, Perez R, Pedrana G, Milton JTB, Lopez A, Blackberry MA, Duncombe G, Rodriguez-Martinez H, Martin GB (2002) Low maternal nutrition during pregnancy reduces the number of sertoli cells in the newborn lamb. Reproduction, Fertility and Development 14, 333–337.
| Low maternal nutrition during pregnancy reduces the number of sertoli cells in the newborn lamb.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Blair HT, Jenkinson CMC, Peterson SW, Kenyon PR, van der Linden DS, Davenport LC, Mackenzie DDS, Morris ST, Firth EC (2010) Dam and granddam feeding during pregnancy in sheep affects milksupply in offspring and reproductive performance in grand-offspring. Journal of Animal Science 88, E40–E50.
| Dam and granddam feeding during pregnancy in sheep affects milksupply in offspring and reproductive performance in grand-offspring.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BC3c3pslyrtQ%3D%3D&md5=ae222388875f0c717520c47e638e4b1eCAS | 19966171PubMed |
Borwick SC, Rae MT, Brooks J, McNeilly AS, Racey PA, Rhind SM (2003) Undernutrition of ewe lambs in utero and in early post-natal life does not affect hypothalamic–pituitary function in adulthood. Animal Reproduction Science 77, 61–70.
| Undernutrition of ewe lambs in utero and in early post-natal life does not affect hypothalamic–pituitary function in adulthood.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXitlGiu7c%3D&md5=f2004190783158140c347a944005d91aCAS | 12654528PubMed |
Coop IE (1986) Matching feed supply and demand. In ‘Sheep production, vol. 2. Feeding, growth and health’. (Eds SNMcCutcheon, MF McDonald, GA Wickham) pp. 137–162. (New Zealand Institute of Agricultural Science: Wellington, New Zealand)
Corner RA, Kenyon PR, Stafford KJ, West DM, Morris ST, Lopez-Villalobos N, Oliver MH (2008) The effect of nutrition from mid- to late-pregnancy on the performance of twin- and triplet-bearing ewes and their lambs. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 48, 666–671.
| The effect of nutrition from mid- to late-pregnancy on the performance of twin- and triplet-bearing ewes and their lambs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
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.
Daniel ZCTR, Brameld JM, Graigon J, Scollan ND, Buttery PJ (2007) Effect of maternal dietary restriction during pregnancy on lamb carcass characteristics and muscle fibre composition. Journal of Animal Science 85, 1565–1576.
| Effect of maternal dietary restriction during pregnancy on lamb carcass characteristics and muscle fibre composition.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2sXls1antLc%3D&md5=0612fc09b370f4045e8d913d7ebf2b11CAS | 17296773PubMed |
Everett-Hincks JM, Dodds KG (2008) Management of maternal-offspring behavior to improve lamb survival in easy care sheep systems. Journal of Animal Science 86, E259–E270.
| Management of maternal-offspring behavior to improve lamb survival in easy care sheep systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD1c3lsVyqsw%3D%3D&md5=93237b69fd1804d176a5049121ae78f5CAS | 17965331PubMed |
Everitt GC (1967) Residual effect of pre-natal nutrition on the postnatal performance of Merino sheep. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 27, 52–68.
Ford SP, Hess BW, Schwope MM, Nijland MJ, Gilbert JS, Vonnahme KA, Means WJ, Han H, Nathanielsz PW (2007) Maternl undernutrition during early to mid-gestation in the ewe results in altered growth, adiposity, and glucose tolerance in male offspring. Journal of Animal Science 85, 1285–1294.
| Maternl undernutrition during early to mid-gestation in the ewe results in altered growth, adiposity, and glucose tolerance in male offspring.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2sXksF2hur8%3D&md5=100597feb26b88e58213f622a6398b3fCAS | 17224460PubMed |
Gluckman PD, Hanson MA (2004) Developmental origins of disease paradigm: a mechanistic and evolutionary perspective. Pediatric Research 56, 311–317.
| Developmental origins of disease paradigm: a mechanistic and evolutionary perspective.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 15240866PubMed |
Gluckman PD, Hanson MA, Buklijas T (2010) A conceptual framework for the developmental origins of health and disease. Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease 1, 6–18.
| A conceptual framework for the developmental origins of health and disease.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3cXnsl2gsrs%3D&md5=3198f3fb50a5f2d569667f7b75af2738CAS |
Gopalakrishnan GS, Gardner DS, Rhind SM, Rae MT, Kyle CE, Brooks AN, Walker RM, Ramsay MM, Keisler DH, Stephenson T, Symonds ME (2004) Programming of adult cardiovascular function after early maternal undernutrition in sheep. American Journal of Physiology. Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology 287, R12–R20.
| Programming of adult cardiovascular function after early maternal undernutrition in sheep.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXmtVeksrc%3D&md5=088a7151e681cc0758b069f52035fcfaCAS | 14975924PubMed |
Gopalakrishnan GS, Gardner DS, Dandrea J, Langley-Evans SC, Pearce S, Kurlak LO, Walker RM, Seetho IW, Keisler DH, Ramsay MM, Stephenson T, Symonds ME (2005) Influence of maternal pre-pregnancy body composition and diet during early–mid pregnancy on cardiovascular function and nephron number in juvenile sheep. The British Journal of Nutrition 94, 938–947.
| Influence of maternal pre-pregnancy body composition and diet during early–mid pregnancy on cardiovascular function and nephron number in juvenile sheep.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD28XpvVCntg%3D%3D&md5=72497d5998a6cce9cacc821f6e0cb827CAS | 16351771PubMed |
Greenwood PL, Thompson AN, Ford SP (2010) Post natal consequences of the maternal environment and 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)
Gunn RG, Sim D, Hunter EA (1995) Effect of nutrition in utero and in early life on the subsequent lifetime reproductive performance of Scottish Blackface ewe in two management systems. Animal Science 60, 223–230.
| Effect of nutrition in utero and in early life on the subsequent lifetime reproductive performance of Scottish Blackface ewe in two management systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hodgson J, Matthews PNP, Matthew C, Lucas RJ (1999) Pasture measurement. In ‘New Zealand pasture and crop science’. (Eds J White, J Hodgson) pp. 59–66. (Oxford University Press: Auckland, New Zealand)
Jefferies BC (1961) Body condition scoring and its use in management. Tasmanian Journal of Agriculture 32, 19–21.
Kelly RW, Macleod I, Hynd P, Greeff J (1996) Nutrition during fetal life alters annual wool production and quality in young Merino sheep. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 36, 259–267.
| Nutrition during fetal life alters annual wool production and quality in young Merino sheep.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kelly RW, Greeff J, Macleod I (2006) Lifetime changes in wool production of Merino sheep following differential feeding in fetal and early life. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 57, 867–876.
| Lifetime changes in wool production of Merino sheep following differential feeding in fetal and early life.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kenyon PR (2008) A review of in-utero environmental effects on sheep production. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 68, 142–155.
Kenyon PR, Morel PCH, Morris ST (2004) The effect of individual liveweight and condition scores of ewes at mating on reproductive and scanning performance. New Zealand Veterinary Journal 52, 230–235.
Kenyon PR, Stafford KJ, Jenkinson CMC, Morris ST, West DM (2007) The body composition and metabolic status of twin- and triplet-bearing ewes and their fetuses in late pregnancy. Livestock Science 107, 103–112.
| The body composition and metabolic status of twin- and triplet-bearing ewes and their fetuses in late pregnancy.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kenyon PR, Blair HT, Jenkinson CMC, Morris ST, MacKenzie DDS, Peterson SW, Firth EC, Johnston PL (2009) The effect of ewe size and nutritional regimen beginning in early pregnancy on ewe and lamb performance to weaning. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 52, 203–212.
| The effect of ewe size and nutritional regimen beginning in early pregnancy on ewe and lamb performance to weaning.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kerslake J, Kenyon PR, Morris ST, Stafford KJ, Morel PCH (2008) Effect of concentrate supplement and sward height on twin-bearing ewe body condition and the performance of their offspring. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 48, 988–994.
| Effect of concentrate supplement and sward height on twin-bearing ewe body condition and the performance of their offspring.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Krausgrill DL, Tulloh NM, Shorthose WR, Sharpe K (1999) Effects of weight loss in ewes in early pregnancy on muscles and meat quality of lambs. Journal of Animal Science 132, 103–116.
Mellor DJ (1983) Nutritional and placental determinants of foetal growth rate in sheep and consequences for the newborn lamb. The British Veterinary Journal 139, 307–324.
Morris ST, Kenyon PR (2004) The effect of litter size and sward height on ewe and lamb performance. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 47, 275–286.
| The effect of litter size and sward height on ewe and lamb performance.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Nicol AM, Brookes IM (2007) The metabolisable energy requirments of grazing livestock. In ‘Pasture and supplements for grazing animals’. (Eds PV Rattray, IM Brookes, AM Nicol) pp. 151–172. Occasional Publication No. 14. (New Zealand Society of Animal Production: Hamilton, New Zealand)
Oddy VH, Holst PJ (1991) Maternal-foetal adaption to mid pregnancy feed restriction in single-bearing ewes. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 42, 969–978.
Parr RA, Williams AH, Campbell IP, Witcombe GF, Roberts AM (1986) Low nutrition of ewes in early pregnancy and the residual effects on the offspring. Journal of Agricultural Science 106, 81–87.
| Low nutrition of ewes in early pregnancy and the residual effects on the offspring.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Rae MT, Kyle CE, Miller DW, Hammond AJ, Brooks AN, Rhind SM (2002) The effects of undernutrion, in utero, on reproductive function in the adult male and female sheep. Animal Reproduction Science 72, 63–71.
| The effects of undernutrion, in utero, on reproductive function in the adult male and female sheep.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XltFahsLw%3D&md5=5aabef687a06d64913a0b1b02f74ee40CAS | 12106966PubMed |
Rattray PV (1986)Feed requirements for maintenance, gain and production. In ‘Sheep production. Vol. 2. Feeding, growth and health’. (Eds SN McCutcheon, MF McDonald, GA Wickham) pp. 75–109. (New Zealand Institute of Agricultural Science: Wellington)
Rattray PV, Garrett WN, East NE, Hinman N (1974) Growth, development and composition of the ovine conceptus and mammary gland during pregnancy. Journal of Animal Science 38, 613–626.
Robinson JJ (1977) The influence of maternal nutrition on ovine placental growth. The Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 36, 9–16.
| The influence of maternal nutrition on ovine placental growth.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaE2s3lslWlsA%3D%3D&md5=637bc588572755228dcb0db04ee06901CAS | 331337PubMed |
Robinson JJ, Sinclair KD, McEvoy TG (1999) Nutritional effects on foetal growth. Animal Science 68, 315–331.
Russel AJF (1984) Means of assessing the adequacy of nutrition of pregnant ewes. Livestock Production Science 11, 429–436.
| Means of assessing the adequacy of nutrition of pregnant ewes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Symonds ME, Stephenson T, Gardner DS, Budge H (2007) Long-term effects of nutritional programming of the embryo and fetus: mechanisms and critical windows. Reproduction, Fertility and Development 19, 53–63.
| Long-term effects of nutritional programming of the embryo and fetus: mechanisms and critical windows.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Thompson BC, Muir PD, Smith NB (2004) Litter size, lamb survival, birth and twelve week weight in lambs born to cross-bred ewes. Proceedings of the New Zealand Grasslands Association 66, 233–237.
Tygesen MP, Harrison AP, Therkildsen M (2007) The effect of maternal nutrient restriction during late gestation on muscle, bone and meat parameters in five month old lambs. Livestock Science 110, 230–241.
| The effect of maternal nutrient restriction during late gestation on muscle, bone and meat parameters in five month old lambs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Valentine I, Kemp PD (2007) Pasture and supplement resources. In ‘Pasture and supplements for grazing animals’. (Eds PV Rattray, IM Brookes, AM Nicol) pp. 3–12. Occassional Publications No. 14. (New Zealand Society of Animal Production: Hamilton, New Zealand)
van der Linden D, Kenyon PR, Jenkinson CMC, Peterson SW, Lopez-Villalobos N, Blair HT (2007) The effects of ewe size and nutrition during pregnancy on growth and onset of puberty in female progeny. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 67, 126–129.
van der Linden D, Kenyon PR, Blair HT, Lopez-Villalobos N, Jenkinson CMC, Peterson SW, MacKenzie DDS (2009) Effects of ewe size and nutrition on fetal mammary gland development and lactational performance of offspring at their first lactation. Journal of Animal Science 87, 3944–3954.
| Effects of ewe size and nutrition on fetal mammary gland development and lactational performance of offspring at their first lactation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1MXhsVOhs7bO&md5=fa9d40c23ae3406eb2d9d15ccada1136CAS | 19684261PubMed |
van der Linden D, Kenyon PR, Blair HT, Lopez-Villalobos N, Jenkinson CMC, Peterson SW, MacKenzie DDS (2010a) Relationships between early postnatal growth and metabolic function of 16-month-old female offspring born to ewes exposed to different environments during pregnancy. Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease 1, 50–59.
| Relationships between early postnatal growth and metabolic function of 16-month-old female offspring born to ewes exposed to different environments during pregnancy.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3cXnsl2gs78%3D&md5=133fcb3e0dc4bf1a2d173a810d5200e2CAS |
van der Linden D, Kenyon PR, Blair HT, Lopez-Villalobos N, Jenkinson CMC, Peterson SW, MacKenzie DDS (2010b) Effects of ewe size and nutrition during pregnancy on glucose metabolism, fat metabolism and adrenal function of postpubertal female twin offspring. Production Science 50, 869–879.
| Effects of ewe size and nutrition during pregnancy on glucose metabolism, fat metabolism and adrenal function of postpubertal female twin offspring.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3cXht1ajt7%2FJ&md5=41bf221d1e969caf78efa8571317768fCAS |
Vonnahme KA, Hess BW, Hansen TR, McCormick RJ, Rule DC, Moss GE, Murdoch WJ, Nijland MJ, Skinner DC, Nathanielsz PW (2003) Maternal undernutrition from early- to mid-gestation leads to growth retardation, Cardiac ventricular hypertrophy and increased liver weight in fetal sheep. Biology of Reproduction 69, 133–140.
| Maternal undernutrition from early- to mid-gestation leads to growth retardation, Cardiac ventricular hypertrophy and increased liver weight in fetal sheep.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXkvFCnt7o%3D&md5=9819dbab8f6d1f3869f1533fd2fd8121CAS | 12606329PubMed |
Wallace LR (1948) The growth of lambs before and after birth in relation to the level of nutrition. The Journal of Agricultural Science 38, 367–398.
| The growth of lambs before and after birth in relation to the level of nutrition.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wallace JM (2000) Nutrient partitioning during pregnancy: adverse gestational outcome in overnourished adolescent dams. The Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 59, 107–117.
Wu G, Bazer FW, Wallace JM, Spencer TE (2006) Intrauterine growth retardation: implications for animal sciences. Journal of Animal Science 84, 2316–2337.
| Intrauterine growth retardation: implications for animal sciences.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD28XovFGktLs%3D&md5=a0f988f5977f4f401e5a84fec62ae990CAS | 16908634PubMed |
