The effect of ewe body condition at lambing on the performance of ewes and their lambs at pasture

1980 ◽  
Vol 95 (3) ◽  
pp. 631-640 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Gibb ◽  
T. T. Treache
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Stocking Density ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
The Body ◽  
Daily Growth ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Lamb Growth ◽  
Secretion Rates ◽  
Body Condition Scores

SUMMARYEwes in body condition scores of 2·4 (thin) or 3·2 (fat) on a 5-point scale and suckling twin lambs were grazed at two stocking rates for the first 16 weeks of lactation. Paddocks were grazed for periods of 2 weeks at densities of 80 and 160 ewes/ha in weeks 1–8 and then 70 and 140 ewes/ha in weeks 9/16 of lactation.Intakes of herbage by ewes were not significantly affected by body condition. Estimation of milk yield by weekly measurement of secretion rates over 4 h failed to demonstrate significant differences due to body condition except in weeks 9, 11 and 12, although there was a tendency throughout for fat ewes to produce more milk. However, the daily growth rates of the lambs during the first 8 weeks and the overall live-weight gains were significantly higher for lambs suckled by fat ewes than for those suckled by thin ewes. Intake of herbage by lambs was not affected by the body condition of the ewes.Herbage intakes, milk yields and lamb growth rates were all significantly higher at the low stocking density than at the high stocking density.

The effect of body condition and nutrition during late pregnancy on the performance of grazing ewes during lactation

1982 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 123-129 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Gibb ◽  
T. T. Treacher
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Body Reserves ◽  
Herbage Intake ◽  
Feeding Regimes ◽  
Subsequent Effect ◽  
Lamb Growth ◽  
Body Condition Scores

ABSTRACTEwes with body condition scores of 2·6 (T) and 3·3 (F) on day 90 of pregnancy were allocated to one of two feeding regimes calculated either to maintain ewe body reserves (H) or to mobilize body reserves and produce a daily loss of 150 g in ewe body weight (L) during the last 8 weeks of pregnancy. Eight ewes with twin lambs from treatments TL, TH, FL and FH, and six ewes with single lambs from treatment TH, were grazed for the first 10 weeks of lactation at a mean daily herbage dry matter allowance of lOOg/kg live weight.Feeding treatments applied during pregnancy produced differences in ewe live weights and body condition scores at lambing (68·6, 72·4, 76·7, 831 (s.e. 2·40) kg and 1·9, 2·9, 2·8, 31 (s.e. 011) for treatments TL, TH, FL and FH respectively) that persisted through lactation, but had no effect on herbage organic matter intake by ewes (mean 21 (s.e. 0·05) kg/day) milk yield (2·4 (s.e. 0·13) kg/day), lamb growth rate (mean 245 (s.e. 4·7) g/day) or herbage intake by lambs in weeks 7, 8 and 10 (mean 0·23, 0·28 and 0·36 (s.e. 0·007) kg/day).Ewes with single lambs, when compared with ewes with twins, had similar intakes of herbage organic matter (mean 2·2 (s.e. 0·14) kg/day), produced 0·28 less milk (mean 1·7 (s.e. 010) kg/day) and increased in weight (mean 5·0 (s.e. 1·96) kg). Single lambs had significantly higher growth rates (322 (s.e. 13·1) g/day) overall but had similar intakes of herbage organic matter in weeks 7, 8 and 10 (means 0·25, 0·29 and 0·39 (s.e. 0·03) kg/day).The range of ewe body condition and feeding in late pregnancy examined in this experiment had little subsequent effect on milk production by the ewes suckling twin lambs, given a plentiful supply of herbage.

Effect of sward height on herbage intake and production of ewes of different rearing rank during lactation

1992 ◽  
Vol 118 (3) ◽  
pp. 383-395 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. J. Parker ◽  
S. N. McCutcheon
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
The Body ◽  
Similar Amount ◽  
Lower Body ◽  
Sward Height ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Herbage Intake ◽  
Lamb Growth

SUMMARYGroups of six single- and six twin-rearing ewes were continuously stocked on five pastures with sward surface heights (SSHs) of 3·5, 5·0, 6·0, 7·0 and 8·5 cm from week l until week ll of lactation. Herbage intake, estimated from faecal chromium concentrations and the in vitro digestibility of herbage samples collected from oesophageal-fistulated wethers, was lowest on the 3·5 cm sward but was not significantly different between SSH treatments during weeks 5, 8 and 9 of lactation. Twin-rearing ewes consumed 0·9–17·6% more herbage than single-rearing ewes did. By week ll, ewe liveweights showed increases of 2–4 kg/ewe on all except the 3·5 cm sward, where the ewes lost a similar amount of liveweight. From week 4 of lactation, twin-rearing ewes had a lower body condition than ewes raising a single lamb on all except the 3·5 cm sward, where the body condition of both rearing ranks was similar. Lamb growth rates during the first 6 weeks were similar for each SSH treatment but from days 46–76 of lactation, lambs on the 5·0 cm and longer swards grew faster (240 g/day) than those on the 3·5 cm sward (197 g/day). Lamb weight on day 76 ranged from 21·5 kg on the 3·5 cm sward to 23·0 kg on the 5·0 cm sward, but was not significantly affected by SSH. Similarly, midside wool growth of ewes and lambs was not significantly influenced by SSH during the period of continuous stocking. The results indicate that farmers should aim to provide swards of 5–7 cm height during lactation to maximize production in both single- and twin-rearing ewes.

scholarly journals AUTUMN NITROGEN FERTILISER IN A DRYLAND SHEEP SYSTEM

1989 ◽  
pp. 135-138
Author(s):  
J.H. Hoglund ◽  
C.G.L. Pennell
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rates ◽  
Early Spring ◽  
Severe Drought ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Daily Growth ◽  
Nitrogen Fertiliser ◽  
Body Weights ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Lamb Growth ◽  
Better Than

Applying 50 kg N/ha to dryland ryegrass-white clover pasture in autumn in each of four years resulted in an increased carrying capacity over the control for the last two years of 137 kg liveweight per ha at minimum in December, with an early spring peak of 211 kg extra liveweight per ha. Despite higher stocking rates on N-treated pastures in the later years. feed on offer at grazing was greater from early winter until the onset of severe drought, typically 8 months later. This improved level of feeding lifted ewe bodyweights post lambing by at least 4 kg. These higher ewe body weights were associated with significantly higher birth weights of twin lambs. Daily growth rates of these lambs. in a flock averagmg better than 175% lambing, were in excess of 260 g/head when ewe bodyweights were over 60 kg post lambing. Keywords: Nitrogen fertiliser, sheep grazing, lamb growth rates

scholarly journals Evaluation of offspring of dairy sheep given water supplemented with crude glycerin during pregnancy and lactation

2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (4Supl1) ◽  
pp. 2567
Author(s):  
Hemilly Cristina Menezes Sá ◽  
Iran Borges ◽  
Gilberto De Lima Macedo Junior ◽  
Felipe Santiago Santos ◽  
Luigi Francis Lima Cavalcanti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
The Body ◽  
Crude Glycerin ◽  
Body Measurements ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Pregnancy And Lactation ◽  
Body Condition Scores

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of crude glycerin (CG) supplementation of dairy ewes during pregnancy and early lactation on the body weight and measurements of offspring from birth to weaning. Twenty-four lambs from 24 Lacaune x East Friesian genotype ewes were evaluated. The sheep were distributed in four treatments that differed in crude glycerin supplementation of 0%, 1.5%, 3.0%, and 4.5%, as well as the concomitant adjustment of dry matter and water intake. Body measurements of lambs were recorded every two weeks from birth until weaning. Body weight was recorded daily. Multiple regression analysis revealed that supplementation with CG explained 5.2% of the variation in the weight of lambs at birth (LW), accompanied by the body condition score of the ewe (12.3%), sex of lamb (19.2%), and live weight of the ewes (26.5%); r2 was 63%. According to the predictions of the model adjusted for simulated scenarios, the leanest lambs were derived from ewes weighing between 40 and 50 kg, with body condition scores from 4 to 5, and that did not receive CG at intermediate levels. Heavier lambs, with LW above 5.5 kg, were derived from ewes that weighed between 80 to 90 kg with low body condition scores of 3, and that received 1.5% CG. Supplementation with CG between 2% and 4% improves the weight of the lambs at birth. Body measurements of lambs were not influenced by dietary supplementation of ewes with CG.

Ovarian follicle populations, steroidogenicity and micromorphology at 5 and 9 weeks post partum in beef cows in two levels of body condition

1990 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Prado ◽  
S. M. Rhind ◽  
I. A. Wright ◽  
A. J. F. Russel ◽  
S. R. McMillen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Ovarian Follicle ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Beef Cows ◽  
Lower Number ◽  
The Body ◽  
Lh Pulsatility ◽  
Body Condition Scores

ABSTRACTThe effect of body condition at calving on ovarian follicle characteristics during post-partum anoestrus was studied in 38 suckling Blue-Grey cows with mean body-condition scores of 2·80 (s.e. 0·05) (H) or 2·35 (s.e. 0·05) (L) at calving and fed so that they maintained live weight and body condition during lactation. Cows of each level of body condition were ovariectomized at either 5 or 9 weeks after calving and follicles ≥3 mm in diameter were dissected out and incubated in a medium (Medium 199) for 2 h. Follicle incubates were assayed for progesterone, testosterone and oestradiol. L cows had fewer follicles ≥3 mm in diameter than H cows (24·1 v. 44·9; P < 0·05) at 5 weeks post partum due to a lower number of small (3 to 4 mm) follicles (12·9 v. 30·6; P < 0·05). At 9 weeks there was no effect of body condition on mean numbers of follicles (38·1 v. 40·4; P > 0·05). The proportions of healthy, intermediate and atretic follicles in all cows were 0·35, 0·20 and 0·45 respectively; these proportions were not affected by body condition or time of ovariectomy. Body condition did not affect the overall mean capacity of the cultured follicles to produce oestradiol or progesterone in vitro but testosterone production was higher in follicles from H than L cows (6406 v. 5206 pg/h; P < 0·05). However, at 9 weeks post partum a greater proportion of H than L cows had a large (>8 mm), healthy, highly oestrogenic follicle (4/8 v. 1/7; P = 0·18).At 9 weeks post partum, the four large, healthy, oestrogen-active follicles (those secreting >250 pg/h) from H cows were approximately 11-fold more oestrogenic than the single comparable follicle from L cows (7100 v. 635 pg/h; P > 0·05). There was little difference at week 5 post partum: 3288 and 2785 pg/h (P > 0·05) for H and L cows respectively. Oestrogen-active follicles from H cows were significantly more oestrogenic at 9 than 5 weeks post partum (5807 v. 3021 pg/h; P < 0·05). The results suggest that the body condition-related reduction in the number and steroidogenic capacity of large oestrogenic follicles in post-partum cows may be associated with a reduction in LH pulsatility.

A Comparison between rotational grazing and set stocking with ewes and lambs at three stocking rates

1975 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 303-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. E. Young ◽  
J. E. Newton
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rates ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
Rotational Grazing ◽  
Period 2 ◽  
Supplementary Feed ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Lamb Growth

SUMMARYIn 1972 a comparison was made between rotational creep grazing (R—8 paddocks) and set stocking (S—2 paddocks) for ewes and their twin lambs at 3 stocking rates viz. 20 (H), 17 (M) and 14 (L) ewes/ha.The herbage intakes/kg live weight of the R ewes were similar to those of the S ewes in period 1 (c. 7th week of lactation) but higher i n period 2 (c. 10th week of lactation). The intakes of the lambs were not affected by the grazing management in periods 3 or 5, but in period 4 the R lambs had a higher intake than those on S. The overall lamb growth rates were also higher on R compared with S. The carcass outputs (net of supplementary feed) were higher for any R treatment compared with any S treatment being 453, 451 and 427 for R and 419, 379 and 380 for S at the H, M and L stocking rates respectively.

Assessment of the proportion of chemical fat in the bodies of live sheep

1972 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
pp. 147-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. Guerra ◽  
C. J. Thwaites ◽  
T. N. Edey
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Condition Index ◽  
The Body ◽  
Body Condition Index ◽  
Experimental Animals ◽  
Weight Relationship ◽  
Direct Measurements ◽  
Body Condition Scores

SUMMARYThe ability of subjectively assessed body condition scores, direct measurements of backfat depth, and an objective body condition index (based on the size/weight relationship), to predict the proportion of chemical fat in the body of the live sheep was investigated in three groups of Merino ewes. All three techniques possessed a similar, and practically acceptable ability to predict the proportion of chemical fat in the fleece-free empty body. However, both live weight and fleece-free empty body weight possessed similar predictive powers, and the method of choice in any particular situation could thus be determined by the availability of weighing facilities and the need for speed, objectivity and for minimizing interference with the experimental animals.

scholarly journals Optimising grazing for livestock production and environmental benefits in Chinese grasslands

2020 ◽  
Vol 42 (5) ◽  
pp. 347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Warwick B. Badgery ◽  
David Kemp ◽  
Zhang Yingjun ◽  
Wang Zhongwu ◽  
Han Guodong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Alpine Meadow ◽  
Livestock Production ◽  
Desert Steppe ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Typical Steppe ◽  
Artemisia Frigida ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Lamb Growth

Overgrazing has extensively degraded Chinese grasslands. A reduction in stocking rate of 30–50% below the district averages is required to increase the profitability of livestock production and protect vital ecosystem services such as mitigation of greenhouse gases (GHG). Grazing experiments located in the desert steppe, typical steppe and alpine meadow verified the influence of stocking rate and grazing management on livestock production, grassland composition and associated ecosystem services. The desert steppe experiment found lower stocking rates of ~150 SE (where SE is sheep equivalent, which is a 50kg animal) grazing days ha–1 (1 SE ha–1 over 150 days) enhanced botanical composition, maintained profitable lamb growth rates and reduced GHG emissions intensity. The typical steppe experiment found moderate grazing pressure of ~400 SE grazing days ha–1 (4 SE ha–1 over 100 days) maintained higher lamb growth rates, an average herbage mass &gt;0.5t DM ha–1 that maintained the content of Leymus chinensis above 70% and Artemisia frigida below 10% of the grassland and had the highest level of net carbon sequestration. In the alpine meadow experiment the district average stocking rate of ~16 SE ha–1 (1440 SE grazing days ha–1 over 90 days) was not too high, but extending grazing into the non-growing season had no benefit. The findings of these experiments highlight that many of the benefits to ecosystem services can be achieved with reduced stocking rates which also generate profitable levels of livestock production. In both the desert and typical steppe experiments, the results were optimal when the stocking rates were adjusted to maintain average herbage mass over summer above ~0.5t DM ha–1, whereas herbage mass was higher with the local, conservative stocking rates in the alpine meadow.

The effect of level of nutrition prior to mating on the reproductive performance of ewes of two welsh breeds in different levels of body condition

1991 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 157-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. G. Gunn ◽  
T. J. Maxwell ◽  
D. A. Sim ◽  
J. R. Jones ◽  
M. E. James
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
High Surface ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Corpora Lutea ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Body Condition Scores

ABSTRACTThe effects of high-low (HL) and low-high (LH) patterns of nutrition during the 5 weeks prior to a synchronized mating were studied on the reproductive performance of 115 Welsh Mountain and 114 Brecknock Cheviot ewes in a range of body condition at the start of treatment. For 2 months prior to treatment imposition, ewes were grazed in a systematic way at different stocking rates on different sward heights to obtain a range of body condition scores. Target score groupings were 2·00 to 2·25, 2·50 to 2·75 and 3·00 to 3·25 and although scores of 1·50 to 3·25 were obtained, most lay in the 2·00 to 2·75 range. Two treatment groups, balanced for live weight and body condition score, received high and low levels of nutrition for 16 days from mid October, achieved, respectively, by a low stocking rate on a sward with a high surface height plus ad libitum concentrate and a high stocking rate on a sward with a low surface height plus 200 g hay per head per day. Treatments were then reversed for the 17 days prior to mating. Live-weight and body condition-score changes were recorded and reproductive performance at first mating was measured from counts of corpora lutea and viable embryos at slaughter either at return to service or at 4 weeks after first mating. There were no differences due to nutritional pattern in live weight or body condition score at mating. The LH treatment significantly increased the rates of ovulation, conception, multiple ova survival and potential lambing per ewe pregnant and per ewe mated in the Welsh Mountain breed but significantly increased only the rates of ovulation and potential lambing per ewe pregnant in the Brecknock Cheviot breed compared with the HL treatment. The relatively poorer response in the latter breed was partially due to a lower ovulation rate potential coupled with non-significantly lower rates of conception and survival of single-shed ova associated with the LH treatment. Much of this relatively poorer reproductive performance in the Brecknock Cheviot breed was in ewes with body condition scores 3= 2·75. Reproductive performance increased with increasing body condition at the start of treatment over the range of scores =≤ 2·25 to 2·50 in both breeds and, while continuing to improve in scores above 2·50 in the Welsh Mountain breed, in the Brecknock Cheviot breed it started to decline. Ewes with a body condition score of 2·50 in both breeds showed the greatest response in potential lambing rate to the LH treatment.

scholarly journals Haemonchus spp. in sheep farmed under resource-poor conditions in South Africa - effect on haematocrit, conjunctival mucous membrane colour and body condition

2002 ◽  
Vol 73 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
A.F. Vatta ◽  
R.C. Krecek ◽  
M.J. Van der Linde ◽  
P.W. Motswatswe ◽  
R.J. Grimbeek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Mucous Membrane ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
The Body ◽  
Gauteng Province ◽  
North West ◽  
Resource Poor ◽  
Faecal Egg Counts ◽  
Worm Control ◽  
Body Condition Scores

A longitudinal study was conducted on the differential faecal egg counts, haematocrits and body condition scores of sheep belonging to resource-poor farmers at Rust de Winter, Gauteng province, and Kraaipan, North West Province, South Africa. The animals were scored for level of anaemia using the FAMACHA(c) method, an assay for the clinical evaluation of anaemia caused by Haemonchus spp. Periods of higher Haemonchus egg counts occurred from October to March for sheep at Rust de Winter and from September/October to February or April for sheep at Kraaipan. Lower haematocrit values were registered during these periods as was a higher incidence of anaemic conjunctival mucous membrane colour scores compared to the period April to September. No clear relationship between the faecal egg counts and the body condition scores was evident. Although wider application of the FAMACHA(c) system in sheep raised by resource-poor farmers should be investigated, the present study indicates that this method may certainly prove to be a valuable worm control strategy for such livestock owners.

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