Offering maternal composite ewes higher levels of nutrition from mid-pregnancy to lambing results in predictable increases in birthweight, survival and weaning weight of their lambs
R. Behrendt
A I , J. E. Hocking Edwards B , D. Gordon C H , M. Hyder D , M. Kelly E , F. Cameron A , J. Byron A , M. Raeside A , G. Kearney F and A. N. Thompson G
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Agriculture Victoria, Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions, 915 Mount Napier Road, Hamilton, Vic. 3300, Australia.
B SARDI Livestock Systems, Struan Research Centre, PO Box 618, Naracoorte, SA 5271, Australia.
C RIST, 915 Mount Napier Road, Hamilton, Vic. 3300, Australia.
D Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, 444 Albany Highway, Albany, WA 6330, Australia.
E 59 West Lake Road, Croxton East, Vic. 3301, Australia.
F 36 Paynes Road, Hamilton, Vic. 3300, Australia.
G School of Veterinary and Life Science, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia.
H Present address: Livestock Logic, Hamilton, Vic. 3300, Australia.
I Corresponding author. Email: Ralph.Behrendt@ecodev.vic.gov.au
Animal Production Science 59(10) 1906-1922 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN18505
Submitted: 15 August 2018 Accepted: 16 January 2019 Published: 19 February 2019
Abstract
Management of nutrition during pregnancy for maternal composite ewes has the potential to improve lamb production and survival in prime lamb production systems but existing condition score (CS) guidelines developed for Merinos may not be appropriate for the optimum production of maternal ewes. To address this, three replicated experiments were conducted at two research sites in Victoria and one in Western Australia. Ewes (781–800 per site) were allocated to four CS treatments following pregnancy scanning (~Day 50) and differentially fed to reach approximate targets of CS 2.4, 2.8, 3.2 and 3.6 by lambing. Single and multiple bearing ewes grazed together, and nutritional treatments were applied until the end of lambing after which ewes and lambs were aggregated into management groups containing all treatments. At lambing, maternal ewe liveweight had a range between treatments of 13.7–19.1 kg (average 16.4 kg) and CS varied by 1.1–1.5 of a CS (average 1.24). Across site analysis indicated that lamb birthweight and weaning weight increased with application of higher CS treatments (P < 0.001). There was also an improvement in survival of multiple born lambs with increasing CS at lambing (P < 0.001). Birthweight was significantly related to survival (P < 0.001) at all sites with no significant effect of birth type on lamb survival. Changes in birthweight and weaning weight could be predicted from ewe joining liveweight, ewe liveweight change to Day 90 and ewe liveweight change Day 90 to lambing. The coefficients derived for each of these effects were similar to those found in previous experiments examining Merino and crossbred Border Leicester Merino ewes. The optimum CS targets for multiple bearing maternal composite ewes may be higher than the industry recommended target for Merino ewes based on advantages in lamb survival and weaning weight.
Additional keywords: ewes, lamb production, lamb survival, nutrition, pregnancy.
References
Banchero GE, Quintans G, Vazquez A, Gigena F, La Manna A, Lindsay DR, Milton JTB (2007) Effect of supplementation of ewes with barley or maize during the last week of pregnancy on colostrum production. Animal 1, 625–630.| Effect of supplementation of ewes with barley or maize during the last week of pregnancy on colostrum production.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 22444419PubMed |
Banchero GE, Milton JTB, Lindsay DR, Martin GB, Quintans G (2015) Colostrum production in ewes: a review of regulation mechanisms and of energy supply. Animal 9, 831–837.
| Colostrum production in ewes: a review of regulation mechanisms and of energy supply.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 25556391PubMed |
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 |
Blackshaw P, Ough M (2015) Livestock Farm Monitor Project Victoria 2014/15. Department of Economic Development Jobs, Transport and Resources, Melbourne.
Blumer SE, Gardner GE, Ferguson MB, Thompson AN (2016) Environmental and genetic factors influence the liveweight of adult Merino and Border Leicester × Merino ewes across multiple sites and years. Animal Production Science 56, 775–788.
| Environmental and genetic factors influence the liveweight of adult Merino and Border Leicester × Merino ewes across multiple sites and years.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Brien FD, Hebart ML, Smith DH, Hocking Edwards JE, Greeff JC, Hart KW, Refshauge G, Bird-Gardiner TL, Gaunt G, Behrendt R, Robertson MW, Hinch GN, Geenty KG, van der Werf JHJ (2010) Opportunities for genetic improvement of lamb survival. Animal Production Science 50, 1017–1025.
| Opportunities for genetic improvement of lamb survival.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Cayley J, Bird P (1996) Techniques for measuring pastures. Victorian Department of Agriculture, Melbourne.
Curtis K (2009) Wool Desk Report—June 2009, Flock Demographics and Producer Intentions-February 2009 National Survey Results. Issue No. 011. Perth.
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 |
Dutra F, Banchero G (2011) Polwarth and Texel ewe parturition duration and its association with lamb birth asphyxia. Journal of Animal Science 89, 3069–3078.
| Polwarth and Texel ewe parturition duration and its association with lamb birth asphyxia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 21531850PubMed |
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 | 16612011PubMed |
Dwyer CM, Lawrence AB, Bishop SC, Lewis M (2003) Ewe–lamb bonding behaviours at birth are affected by maternal undernutrition in pregnancy. British Journal of Nutrition 89, 123–136.
| Ewe–lamb bonding behaviours at birth are affected by maternal undernutrition in pregnancy.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 12568672PubMed |
Dwyer C, Conington J, Corbiere F, Holmøy I, Muri K, Nowak R, Rooke J, Vipond J, Gautier J (2016) Invited review: Improving neonatal survival in small ruminants: science into practice. Animal 10, 449–459.
| Invited review: Improving neonatal survival in small ruminants: science into practice.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 26434788PubMed |
Earle DF, McGowan AA (1979) Evaluation and calibration of an automated rising plate meter for estimating dry matter yield of pasture. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 19, 337–343.
| Evaluation and calibration of an automated rising plate meter for estimating dry matter yield of pasture.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
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 |
Geenty K, Sykes A (1986) Effect of herbage allowance during pregnancy and lactation on feed intake, milk production, body composition and energy utilization of ewes at pasture. The Journal of Agricultural Science 106, 351–367.
| Effect of herbage allowance during pregnancy and lactation on feed intake, milk production, body composition and energy utilization of ewes at pasture.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Geenty KG, Brien FD, Hinch GN, Dobos RC, Refshauge G, McCaskill M, Ball AJ, Behrendt R, Gore KP, Savage DB, Harden S, Hocking-Edwards JE, Hart K, van der Werf JHJ (2014) Reproductive performance in the Sheep CRC Information Nucleus using artificial insemination across different sheep-production environments in southern Australia. Animal Production Science 54, 715–726.
| Reproductive performance in the Sheep CRC Information Nucleus using artificial insemination across different sheep-production environments in southern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Genstat Committee (2008) ‘Genstat for Windows.’ 11th edn. (VSN International: Hertfordshire, UK)
Gibb M, Treacher T (1982) The effect of body condition and nutrition during late pregnancy on the performance of grazing ewes during lactation. Animal Science 34, 123–129.
Greenwood PL, Thompson AN, Ford SP (2010) Postnatal consequences on 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, Heidelberg, London)
Hawken PAR, Williman M, Milton J, Kelly R, Nowak R, Blache D (2012) Nutritional supplementation during the last week of gestation increased the volume and reduced the viscosity of colostrum produced by twin bearing ewes selected for nervous temperament. Small Ruminant Research 105, 308–314.
| Nutritional supplementation during the last week of gestation increased the volume and reduced the viscosity of colostrum produced by twin bearing ewes selected for nervous temperament.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hinch GN, Brien F (2014) Lamb survival in Australian flocks: a review. Animal Production Science 54, 656–666.
| Lamb survival in Australian flocks: a review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hocking Edwards JE, Winslow E, Behrendt R, Gordon DJ, Kearney GA, Thompson AN (2019) Crossbred ewes gain more weight and are fatter than Merino ewes when managed together but similar coefficients predict lamb birthweight and survival. Animal Production Science 59, 767–777.
| Crossbred ewes gain more weight and are fatter than Merino ewes when managed together but similar coefficients predict lamb birthweight and survival.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Holst PJ (2004) ‘Lamb autopsy. Notes on a procedure for determining cause of death.’ (NSW Agriculture)
Holst PJ, Allan CJ (1992) The timing of a moderate nutritional restriction in mid pregnancy and its effect on lamb birth weight and ewe gestation length. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 32, 11–14.
| The timing of a moderate nutritional restriction in mid pregnancy and its effect on lamb birth weight and ewe gestation length.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
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, Fogarty NM, Stanley DF (2002) Birth weights, meningeal lesions, and survival of diverse genotypes of lambs from Merino and crossbred ewes. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 53, 175–181.
| Birth weights, meningeal lesions, and survival of diverse genotypes of lambs from Merino and crossbred ewes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Jefferies BC (1961) Body condition scoring and its use in management. Tasmanian Journal of Agriculture 32, 19–21.
Kenyon PR, Blair HT (2014) Foetal programming in sheep – effects on production. Small Ruminant Research 118, 16–30.
| Foetal programming in sheep – effects on production.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kerslake JI, 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 |
Knight TW, Lynch PR, Hall DRH, Hockey HUP (1988) Identification of factors contributing to the improved lamb survival in Marshall Romney sheep. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 31, 259–271.
| Identification of factors contributing to the improved lamb survival in Marshall Romney sheep.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kopp KJ, Robertson SM, Friend MA (2019) Barley grain supplementation in late gestation to twin-bearing Merino ewes grazing high-biomass and high-quality pasture does not increase lamb survival. Animal Production Science 59, 543–548.
| Barley grain supplementation in late gestation to twin-bearing Merino ewes grazing high-biomass and high-quality pasture does not increase lamb survival.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Masters DG, Stewart CA, Connell PJ (1993) Changes in plasma amino acid patterns and wool growth during late pregnancy and early lactation in the ewe. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 44, 945–957.
| Changes in plasma amino acid patterns and wool growth during late pregnancy and early lactation in the ewe.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
McCaskill MR, Behrendt R, Clark S (2010) EverGraze: hedges and climate change reduces lamb chill. In ‘Proceedings of the 51st annual conference of the Grassland Society of Southern Australia’. (Ed. J Hirth) pp. 175–180. (Grassland Association of Southern Australia Inc.: Echuca, Vic.)
Oldham CM, Thompson AN, Ferguson MB, Gordon DJ, Kearney GA, Paganoni BL (2011) The birth weight and survival of Merino lambs can be predicted from the profile of liveweight change of their mothers during pregnancy. Animal Production Science 51, 776–783.
| The birth weight and survival of Merino lambs can be predicted from the profile of liveweight change of their mothers during pregnancy.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Paganoni BL, Ferguson MB, Kearney GA, Thompson AN (2014) Increasing weight gain during pregnancy results in similar increases in lamb birth weights and weaning weights in Merino and non-Merino ewes regardless of sire type. Animal Production Science 54, 727–735.
| Increasing weight gain during pregnancy results in similar increases in lamb birth weights and weaning weights in Merino and non-Merino ewes regardless of sire type.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
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.
| Growth, development and composition of the ovine conceptus and mammary gland during pregnancy.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 4819552PubMed |
Refshauge G, Brien FD, Hinch GN, van de Ven R (2016) Neonatal lamb mortality: factors associated with the death of Australian lambs. Animal Production Science 56, 726–735.
| Neonatal lamb mortality: factors associated with the death of Australian lambs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Robinson JJ, Ashworth CJ, Rooke JA, Mitchell LM, McEvoy TG (2006) Nutrition and fertility in ruminant livestock. Animal Feed Science and Technology 126, 259–276.
| Nutrition and fertility in ruminant livestock.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Rooke JA, Arnott G, Dwyer CM, Rutherford KMD (2015) The importance of the gestation period for welfare of lambs: maternal stressors and lamb vigour and wellbeing. The Journal of Agricultural Science 153, 497–519.
| The importance of the gestation period for welfare of lambs: maternal stressors and lamb vigour and wellbeing.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Russel AJF, Doney JM, Gunn RG (1969) Subjective assessment of body fat in live sheep. The Journal of Agricultural Science 72, 451–454.
| Subjective assessment of body fat in live sheep.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
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.
| Lamb mortality, birth weight, and nutrition in late pregnancy.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Thompson A (2011) Foreword. Animal Production Science 51, i–ii.
Thompson AN, Doyle PT, Grimm M (1994) Effects of stocking rate in spring on liveweight and wool production of sheep grazing annual pastures. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 45, 367–389.
| Effects of stocking rate in spring on liveweight and wool production of sheep grazing annual pastures.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Thompson AN, Ferguson MB, Campbell AJD, Gordon DJ, Kearney GA, Oldham CM, Paganoni BL (2011) Improving the nutrition of Merino ewes during pregnancy and lactation increases weaning weight and survival of progeny but does not affect their mature size. Animal Production Science 51, 784–793.
| Improving the nutrition of Merino ewes during pregnancy and lactation increases weaning weight and survival of progeny but does not affect their mature size.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Treacher T (1970) Effects of nutrition in late pregnancy on subsequent milk production in Ewes. Animal Science 12, 23–36.
Trompf JP, Gordon DJ, Behrendt R, Curnow M, Kildey L, Thompson AN (2011) Participation in Lifetime Ewe Management results in changes in stocking rate, ewe management and reproductive performance on commercial farms. Animal Production Science 51, 866–872.
| Participation in Lifetime Ewe Management results in changes in stocking rate, ewe management and reproductive performance on commercial farms.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
van Burgel AJ, Oldham CM, Behrendt R, Curnow M, Gordon DJ, Thompson AN (2011) The merit of condition score and fat score as alternatives to liveweight for managing the nutrition of ewes. Animal Production Science 51, 834–841.
| The merit of condition score and fat score as alternatives to liveweight for managing the nutrition of ewes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wheeler JL, Reardon TF, Hedges DA, Rocks RL (1971) The contribution of the conceptus to weight change in pregnant Merino ewes at pasture. The Journal of Agricultural Science 76, 347–353.
| The contribution of the conceptus to weight change in pregnant Merino ewes at pasture.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Young JM, Thompson AN, Kennedy AJ (2010) Bioeconomic modelling to identify the relative importance of a range of critical control points for prime lamb production systems in south-west Victoria. Animal Production Science 50, 748–756.
| Bioeconomic modelling to identify the relative importance of a range of critical control points for prime lamb production systems in south-west Victoria.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 |
