Gestation period, litter size and birth weight in the goat

1983 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. A. Amoah ◽  
M. J. Bryant
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Litter Size ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Regression Equation ◽  
Gestation Period ◽  
General Linear ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Interactive Model

ABSTRACTData from 265 female goats (does) from seven herds in Year 1 and 130 does from four herds in Year 2 were analysed using a general linear interactive model for factors affecting gestation period (GP), litter size (LS) and birth weight (BW) of offspring (kids). Gestation period could be described by the regression equation GP = α – 0·890LS –1·072S where S is the proportion of male kids in the litter and the constant (a) depends on breed and herd and was 154·240 (s.e., 0·843) days for British Saanen does in Herd 1. The model established for LS was a quadratic regressional relationship LS = a – 0·000103 (MW - 60))2 + 0-0172 (MW -60) where MW was live weight of the doe at mating and a at MW = 60 kg depends on herd and period of kidding. For early-kidding does in Herd 1 a was 2·277 (s.e., 0·090) kids. The expression BW —α 0·363LS + 0·057P is a simplified multiple regressional form involving BW, LS and parity (P) where a varies according to breed, herd and age of the doe. The estimate of a for kids from British Saanen, 1-year-old does in Herd 1 was 3·879 (s.e., 0·632) kg.

scholarly journals Some Environmental Factors Affecting Birth Weight, Weaning Weight and Daily Live Weight Gain of Holstein Calves

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (7) ◽  
pp. 617 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erdal Yaylak ◽  
Hikmet Orhan ◽  
Alim Daşkaya
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Birth Weight ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Weaning Weight ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Live Weight Gain ◽  
Weaning Age ◽  
Humidity Index ◽  
Holstein Calves

The present study was conducted to determine some environmental factors affecting birth weight, weaning weight and daily live weight gain of Holstein calves of a livestock facility in Izmir, Turkey. The data on 2091 calves born between the years 2005-2010 were used to assess the relevant parameters. Effects of calving year, calving month, calf gender and the interaction between calving year and calving month on calves’ birth weights were highly significant. The overall mean of birth weights was 39.6±0.15 kg. In addition, effects of calving year, calving month, gender, birth weight, weaning age, calving year x calving month, calving year x gender and calving year x calving month x gender interactions on weaning weight (WW) and daily live weight gain (DLWG) were highly significant. The overall means of WW and DLWG were respectively found to be 79.7±0.20 kg and 525±2.5 g. A one kilogram increase in birth weight resulted in an increase of 0.89 kg in weaning weight and a decrease of 1.26 g in daily live weight gain. Prenatal temperature-humidity index (THI) affected birth weight of calves (R2=0.67). Increasing THI from 50 to 80 resulted in 3.8 kg decrease in birth weight.

A two-diet system and ad libitum lactation feeding of the sow. 2. Litter size and piglet performance

1996 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 349-354 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Neil ◽  
B. Ogle
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Cause Of Death ◽  
Litter Size ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Feeding Regime ◽  
Conventional Diet ◽  
Feeding Regimes ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Piglet Mortality ◽  
Treatment Mortality

AbstractSixty gilts were allotted to one of the following feeding regimes: CR, a conventional diet offered at a restricted level according to Swedish feeding standards; SA, a simplified gestation diet (mainly oats and barley) offered at a restricted level and a conventional diet offered ad libitum during lactation; CA, a conventional gestation diet offered at a restricted level and the same diet offered ad libitum during lactation. The sows were followed for four parities. Piglet birth weight was unaffected by sow feeding, but differences in piglet live weight were found from 3 weeks of age to the end of the experiment when the piglets were 9 weeks old. CA piglets were heavier than SA piglets at 3 and 9 weeks of age and heavier than both CR and SA piglets at weaning (35 ± 3 days). Litter size was unaffected by treatment as was piglet mortality, whereas the cause of death varied with treatment. Mortality due to trauma was higher among CA piglets than among others, while mortality due to weakness was higher among SA piglets than others and there was also a tendency for higher mortality due to diarrhoea among CR piglets. It was concluded that the CA feeding regime was superior with regards to piglet performance.

Crossbred sheep production I. Factors affecting production from the crossbred ewe flock

1964 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. C. Yalçin ◽  
Maurice Bichard
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Litter Size ◽  
Selective Breeding ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Correction Factors ◽  
Secondary Product ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Fleece Weight ◽  
Sheep Production

Donald (1962) has recently pointed out the paucity of available data on production from British sheep, though some information is available for hill sheep (see for example Donald, 1958; Purser and Roberts, 1959; Purser and Young, 1959; Dalton, 1962). Most of these refer mainly to the Scottish Blackface and Welsh Mountain breeds. Hill sheep form approximately 40% of the national flock of over 11 million breeding ewes. Another 40% of ewes are found in crossbred flocks mainly kept on the lowlands; these produce fat lambs and hoggets with wool as a secondary product. Very little information has so far been published on these crossbred ewes, exceptions being work reported by Bywater (1945) and Rennie (1957). This is the first of three papers to be presented with the object of providing such information, and is based mainly on the work of Yalçin (1963). It is hoped that these papers will be of use on two counts:1. To provide a documentation of one specific cross, the Border Leicester × Cheviot ewe and her Suffolk-cross lambs under North of England grassland conditions.2. To analyse the usefulness of keeping production records within such flocks as aids to good commercial management, to culling and to selective breeding.In this paper the traits studied are body weight, fleece weight and litter size of the ewes, and the weights of the lambs between birth and slaughter or weaning. Estimates were obtained for the effects upon some of these traits of age and live-weight of ewe, and of sex, year and type of birth and rearing of the lambs. The usefulness of such correction factors is considered within recording schemes. In subsequent papers the effects on production of differences between crossbred ewes and between the rams used as fat lamb sires will be considered.

scholarly journals Factors affecting birth weight in sheep: maternal environment

Reproduction ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 133 (1) ◽  
pp. 297-307 ◽  
Author(s):  
D S Gardner ◽  
P J Buttery ◽  
Z Daniel ◽  
M E Symonds
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Litter Size ◽  
Maternal Nutrition ◽  
Multilevel Modelling ◽  
Adult Health ◽  
Maternal Characteristics ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Practical Implications

Knowledge of factors affecting variation in birth weight is especially important given the relationship of birth weight to neonatal and adult health. The present study utilises two large contemporary datasets in sheep of differing breeds to explore factors that influence weight at term. For dataset one (Study 1;n=154 Blue-faced Leicester×Swaledale (Mule) and 87 Welsh Mountain ewes, 315 separate cases of birth weight), lamb birth weight as the outcome measure was related to maternal characteristics and individual energy intake of the ewe during specified periods of gestation, i.e. early (1–30 days; term ~147 days gestation), mid (31–80 days) or late (110–147 days) pregnancy. For dataset two (Study 2;n=856 Mule ewes and 5821 cases of birth weight), we investigated using multilevel modelling the influence of ewe weight, parity, barrenness, lamb sex, litter size, lamb mortality and year of birth on lamb birth weight. For a subset of these ewes (n=283), the effect of the ewes’ own birth weight was also examined. Interactions between combinations of variables were selectively investigated. Litter size, as expected, had the single greatest influence on birth weight with other significant effects being year of birth, maternal birth weight, maternal nutrition, sex of the lamb, ewe barrenness and maternal body composition at mating. The results of the present study have practical implications not only for sheep husbandry but also for the increased knowledge of factors that significantly influence variation in birth weight; as birth weight itself has become a significant predictor of later health outcomes.

scholarly journals Environmental Factors Affecting Birth Weight And Litter Size In Yankasa Sheep

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
pp. 14-19
Author(s):  
R. O. Balogun ◽  
M. E. Olayemi ◽  
O .A, . Osinowo
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Least Squares ◽  
Litter Size ◽  
Phenotypic Correlation ◽  
Season Of Birth ◽  
Sheep Flock ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Factors Affecting

Records on 1634 lambings of a Yankasa sheep flock collected from 1983 to 1990 were used to determine the effects of parity, litter size, sex, season and year of birth on birth weight, and that of parity, season and year of birth on litter size respectively.  Least squares means (± s.e.) for birth weight and litter size were 2.49±0.013kg and 1.22±0.010 respectively. Birth weight was significantly (P<0.01) affected by parity, sex, litter size and season of birth. Lambs born in the late wet season had higher birth weights than those born in other seasons. Also, male and single lambs were heavier at birth than female and twin lambs.  Litter size was significantly (P<0.01) affected by parity, season and year of birth. Late wet season lambing had lower litter size than other seasons.  The repeatability estimates for birth weight and litter size were 0.19±0.028 and 0.01±0.032 respectively while phenotypic correlation between the two traits was -0.249.

Late pregnancy ewe feeding and lamb performance in early life. 2. Factors associated with perinatal lamb mortality

1979 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 401-410 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. M. Khalaf ◽  
D. L. Doxey ◽  
J. T. Baxter ◽  
W. J. M. Black ◽  
J. FitzSimons ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Litter Size ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Gamma Globulin ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Total Serum Protein ◽  
Total Serum ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Average Litter Size

ABSTRACTSome factors affecting perinatal lamb mortality were studied with 63 Finn × Dorset Horn ewes and 85 Scottish Half bred and Greyface ewes, having an average litter size of 2·26. Total perinatal lamb mortality averaged 29 % of which 44% were stillborn, 1 % attributed to dystocia, 35 % died between birth and 48 h of age, 14 % from 48 h to 10 days, and 5 % after 10 days.For the Finn × Dorset ewes, the 41 viable twin lambs weighed at birth 3·47 kg and 12 twin lambs which did not survive weighed 2·51 kg. Triplet weights were: viable 2·98 kg (34 lambs) and nonsurviving 2·00 kg (14). Quadruplet weights were: viable 2·79 kg (12) and non-surviving 1·90 kg (16). Quintuplet and sextuplet weights were: viable 2·45 kg (2) and non-surviving 1·35 kg (14).In the aggregated Halfbred and Greyface breeds, viable twin lambs weighed 4·5 kg at birth (91) and non-surviving 3·64 kg (11). Viable triplets weighed 3·77 kg (23) and non-surviving 2·68 kg (16).Serum gamma-globulin and total serum protein values were lower in the lambs which failed to survive, and this was particularly marked with triplets. Fractionating the gamma-globulins (IgG) indicated that IgGi was particularly low in non-viable lambs.Litter size, lamb birth weight, and colostrum intake by the lamb had important effects on perinatal lamb mortality.

Mortality, weight and body measurements at birth of Dairy Shorthorn calves

1949 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 156-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Braude ◽  
D. M. Walker
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Total Loss ◽  
Gestation Period ◽  
Body Measurements ◽  
Average Increase ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Bull Calves ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Length Of Gestation

1. Records of mortality of Dairy Shorthorn heifer calves in the N.I.R.D. herd from 1924 to 1946 were analysed and show a total loss of 16·3%. Losses due to abortions amounted to 5·1%, to stillbirths 6·3%, and post-natal losses in calves up to 6 months of age, 4·8%.2. The mean adjusted length of gestation period for 230 Dairy Shorthorn cows was 285·6 days.3. Calves carried longer were heavier at birth, the average increase in weight amounting to 0·91 lb. per day of gestation.4. The adjusted mean birth weight of the calves was 81·68 lb. Bull calves are carried longer than heifer calves by about 1·68 days and they are heavier at birth by about 3·29 lb.5. The birth weight of 111 heifer calves born between 1940 and 1947 was 79·9 lb. as compared with the value obtained before the war of 87·0 lb. for 285 heifer calves.Some factors affecting the weight of the calf at birth were studied; including the effect of artificial mating.

Growth, food consumption and litter production of female pigs mated at puberty and at low body weights

1973 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. G. Pay ◽  
T. E. Davies
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Food Consumption ◽  
Litter Size ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Litter Production ◽  
Early Puberty ◽  
Average Birth Weight ◽  
The Third ◽  
Body Weights ◽  
Natural Service

SUMMARYGilts were allocated at 55 kg live weight to one of three treatments: 1. 1·4 kg of food daily to service, served at puberty, and 1·4 kg of food daily throughout pregnancy.2. 1·4 kg of food daily to service, served at the third heat, and 1·4 kg of food daily during pregnancy.3. 2·3 kg of food daily to service, served at the third heat, and 1·4 kg of food daily during pregnancy.An attempt was made to encourage early puberty by stimulation using the presence of a boar. Natural service with boars was used on all gilts.There were no significant differences between the treatments in time taken to reach puberty and the gilts were mated at 77, 97 and 116 kg live weight on Treatments 1, 2, and 3 respectively. The gilts on Treatment 1 had a significantly lower conception rate and a significantly smaller litter size than those on Treatments 2 and 3. However, the average birth weight did not vary significantly among treatments.

Factors affecting the gestation length in sheep

1967 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 191-194 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Forbes
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Litter Size ◽  
Gestation Length ◽  
Factors Affecting

The data from 555 normal pregnancies during a period of 6 years in a flock of Scottish Half bred ewes were examined for relationships between gestation length and litter size, birth weight, sex, and age of ewe. A' comparison of Scottish Half bred gestation lengths was also made with those of Specklefaced Welsh ewes.

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