Genetic factors affecting the milk intake of lambs

Abstract

The actual amount of milk produced by a ewe is influenced both by her own potential to produce milk and by the potential of the lamb to obtain it. Two experiments were carried out to investigate the relative importance of these factors. In each experiment there were two genetically different groups of ewes, of which some reared their own single lambs and some reared single lambs from the other group fostered onto them.

In both experiments, the effect of the genotype of the lamb was greater than that of the ewe. In the first experiment, during the period 6–24 days after parturition, ewes suckling strong-wool lambs produced 7.2 g/hr more milk than those suckling Peppin lambs, while the strong-wool ewes themselves produced only 4.6 g/hr more than the Peppin ewes. In the second experiment, during the period 0–28 days after parturition, ewes suckling Corriedale lambs produced 11.6 g/hr more milk than those suckling strong-wool Merino lambs, whereas the Corriedale ewes themselves produced only 4.4 g/hr more than the strong-wool Merino ewes. The lamb genotype effects were statistically significant.

In a third experiment, in which the strong-wool and medium-wool Merinos were compared when suckling twins, the strong-wool exceeded the medium by 10.8 g/hr in milk production for the period 6-24 days after parturition.

Some implications of the results are discussed.