Effect of ewe body condition and nutrition in late pregnancy on the performance of triplet-bearing ewes and their progeny

2011 ◽  
Vol 51 (6) ◽  
pp. 557 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. R. Kenyon ◽  
S. T. Morris ◽  
K. J. Stafford ◽  
D. M. West
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
The Body ◽  
Breeding Period ◽  
Subsequent Performance ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Ad Libitum Feeding ◽  
Production Response

The aim of the present study was to determine the production response of triplet-bearing ewes and their lambs to two differing feeding treatments in mid to late pregnancy and to determine the effect of ewe body condition. Ninety-two days after the start of their breeding period (P92) triplet-bearing ewes, were allocated to either a Medium (n = 72) or ad libitum (‘Adlib’, n = 72) feeding treatment until P113, followed by both groups being merged and offered ad libitum feeding conditions until lambing. The Medium feeding treatment was designed to ensure pre- and postgrazing herbage masses were below 1200 and 1000 kg DM/ha, respectively. Each feeding treatment included ewes from the following body condition score groups: 2.0 or less (CS ≤2.0), 2.5 (CS2.5) or 3.0 or greater (CS ≥3.0). At P113, Medium ewes were lighter (P < 0.05) and had lower (P < 0.05) body condition scores than Adlib ewes (72.4 ± 0.80 vs 75.2 ± 0.85 kg and 2.8 ± 0.06 vs 3.3 ± 0.06, respectively). However, at P141 liveweight no longer differed (P > 0.05, 86.2 ± 0.94 vs 86.6 ± 0.99 kg, respectively), although a small difference in condition score remained (P < 0.05, 3.0 ± 0.07 vs 3.3 ± 0.08, respectively). Ewe feeding treatment had no effect (P > 0.05) on lamb liveweight or survival or ewe liveweight and body condition during lactation. Ewe body condition score group had no effect (P > 0.05) on lamb birthweight. Lambs born to CS2.5 group ewes were heavier 70 days after the midpoint of lambing (L70) than those born to CS ≤2.0 group ewes (20.9 ± 0.41 vs 19.6 ± 0.36 kg, respectively), although they displayed lower survival to L70 (56.0 vs 69.5%). Liveweight at L70 and survival of lambs born to CS ≥3.0 group ewes (20.0 ± 0.39 kg and 61.7%) did not differ (P > 0.05) from those born to either CS ≤2.0 or CS2.5 group ewes. In conclusion, these results suggest triplet-bearing ewes can be maintained under restricted feeding conditions until at least Day 113 of pregnancy without negatively affecting ewe or lamb performance when they are subsequently offered unrestricted feeding for the remainder of pregnancy and during lactation. Under these grazing conditions the body condition of triplet-bearing ewes had little to no effect on their subsequent performance or that of their lambs.

Effect of twin-bearing ewe body condition score and late pregnancy nutrition on lamb performance

2012 ◽  
Vol 52 (7) ◽  
pp. 483 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. R. Kenyon ◽  
R. E. Hickson ◽  
P. G. Hutton ◽  
S. T. Morris ◽  
K. J. Stafford ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Restricted Feeding ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Body Condition Scores

This study aimed to investigate the effects of ewe body condition score and nutrition on twin-bearing ewes and their offspring. At maximum Day 112 of pregnancy (range 96–112 days), 185 twin-bearing ewes were allocated to either a ‘Medium’ or ‘ad libitum’ (Adlib) feeding treatment for the following 25 days (P112–P136). Each feeding treatment included ewes of body condition score: 2.0 (CS2.0, Medium n = 32, Adlib n = 28), CS2.5 (Medium n = 31, Adlib n = 33) or CS3.0 (Medium n = 30, Adlib n = 31). After P136 ewes were offered Adlib feeding conditions. Medium treatment ewes were lighter (P < 0.05) than Adlib ewes at P136 and P142 and displayed lower (P < 0.05) body condition score at P136 and back-fat depths at P142. CS2.0 ewes had lower (P < 0.05) liveweights and body condition score at P112, P136 and P142 than CS2.5 ewes, which in turn had lower (P < 0.05) liveweight and body condition scores than CS3.0 ewes. Ewe feeding treatment had no effect (P > 0.05) on lamb liveweight or apparent colostrum intake. Ewe body condition score had no effect (P > 0.05) on lamb birthweight or apparent colostrum intake. Lambs born to CS2.0 ewes had greater (P < 0.05) survival than lambs born to CS2.5 ewes. At the end of the study lambs born to CS2.0 ewes were lighter (P < 0.05) than those born to CS2.5 and CS3.0 ewes although, there was (P > 0.05) no effect of condition score on total litter liveweight. In conclusion, these results suggest twin-bearing ewes of body condition 2.0–3.0 can be offered restricted feeding levels to at least Day 136 of pregnancy with few implications for their lambs.

The use of body condition scoring to ration beef cows in late pregnancy

1986 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 391-396 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. A. Wright ◽  
A. J. F. Russel ◽  
E. A. Hunter
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Beef Cows ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Flat Rate ◽  
Subsequent Performance ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Score Gain

ABSTRACTForty-eight Hereford × Friesian and Blue Grey cows ranging in body condition score from 1·75 to 4·0, 12 weeks before calving, were fed to achieve three levels of body condition score at calving. Half the cows were fed on an increasing plane of nutrition as pregnancy advanced and half were fed on a flat-rate feeding system. The condition scores achieved by the three groups at calving were 2·28, 2·47 and 2·70 (s.e.d. 0·071; P < 0·001). Differences in cow body condition at calving were reflected in cow live weight and condition 6 weeks later, but there was no effect on calf performance. Hereford × Friesian cows lost more weight in early lactation, tended to produce more milk and their calves were heavier. Pattern of feeding had no effect on cow condition score or weight at calving or on subsequent performance.It was calculated that each unit of body condition-score loss in late pregnancy contributes the equivalent of 3200 MJ dietary metabolizable energy while 6600 MJ dietary metabolizable energy are required for 1 unit of condition-score gain.

scholarly journals Relation of Automated Body Condition Scoring System and Inline Biomarkers (Milk Yield, β-Hydroxybutyrate, Lactate Dehydrogenase and Progesterone in Milk) with Cow’s Pregnancy Success

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 1414
Author(s):  
Ramūnas Antanaitis ◽  
Vida Juozaitienė ◽  
Dovilė Malašauskienė ◽  
Mindaugas Televičius ◽  
Mingaudas Urbutis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lactate Dehydrogenase ◽  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
The Body ◽  
Time Analyzer ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Pregnancy Status ◽  
Body Condition Scoring

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the relation of automatically determined body condition score (BCS) and inline biomarkers such as β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), milk yield (MY), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and progesterone (mP4) with the pregnancy success of cows. The cows (n = 281) had 2.1 ± 0.1. lactations on average, were 151.6 ± 0.06 days postpartum, and were once tested with “Easy scan” ultrasound (IMV imaging, Scotland) at 30–35 d post-insemination. According to their reproductive status, cows were grouped into two groups: non-pregnant (n = 194 or 69.0% of cows) and pregnant (n = 87 or 31.0% of cows). Data concerning their BCS, mP4, MY, BHB, and LDH were collected each day from the day of insemination for 7 days. The BCS was collected with body condition score camera (DeLaval Inc., Tumba, Sweden); mP4, MY, BHB, and LDH were collected with the fully automated real-time analyzer Herd Navigator™ (Lattec I/S, Hillerød, Denmark) in combination with a DeLaval milking robot (DeLaval Inc., Tumba, Sweden). Of all the biomarkers, three differences between groups were significant. The body condition score (BCS) of the pregnant cows was higher (+0.49 score), the milk yield (MY) was lower (−4.36 kg), and milk progesterone in pregnant cows was (+6.11 ng/mL) higher compared to the group of non-pregnant cows (p < 0.001). The pregnancy status of the cows was associated with their BCS assessment (p < 0.001). We estimated that cows with BCS > 3.2 were 22 times more likely to have reproductive success than cows with BCS ≤ 3.2.

scholarly journals Relationships among body condition score, milk yield and reproduction in Czech Fleckvieh cows

2008 ◽  
Vol 53 (No. 9) ◽  
pp. 357-367 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Jílek ◽  
P. Pytloun ◽  
M. Kubešová ◽  
M. Štípková ◽  
J. Bouška ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Milk Yield ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
The Body ◽  
Yield Level ◽  
Subsequent Decrease ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Statistical Program ◽  
Cattle Reproduction

The objective of this study was to confirm the relationship among body condition score at the time around parturition, milk yield in subsequent lactation, reproductive efficiency and BCS development in Czech Fleckvieh dairy cows. The BCS and milk yield were measured once a month and the cows were divided into groups according to their BCS before and after calving. Next, data from the database of cattle reproduction of the Czech Fleckvieh herd book were used. The dataset was analyzed by multifactorial analysis of variance using procedures COOR and GLM of the statistical program SAS. Cows with lower BCS in the 1<sup>st</sup> month after calving showed an increase in both milk yield and fat and protein corrected milk (FPCM) yield. No significant relationship was found between the BCS level before calving and subsequent milk yield. The body condition level in the last month before parturition influenced its subsequent decrease in the first phase of lactation. The group of cows with the highest BCS level before calving retained a high BCS level in the first five months of lactation. Adequately, the group of cows with the lowest BCS in the first month of lactation had the lowest BCS in the next four months. BCS before calving was not related to reproduction indicators, but the significant effect of BCS in the 1<sup>st</sup> month after calving on the length of calving to the first service interval was confirmed. The group of cows with BCS > 3.5 in the 1<sup>st</sup> month after calving had the most favourable reproduction indicators, also when the milk yield level was taken into account.

scholarly journals PSX-2 Growth and lactating performance of ewes fed with different energy levels

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 467-468
Author(s):  
Fernanda F Santos ◽  
Luciano Brochine ◽  
Vanderlei Benetel Junior ◽  
Maria Laura R Coelho ◽  
Augusto H Gameiro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Energy Levels ◽  
The Body ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Condition Score

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the milk production, body weight, and body condition score (BCS) of ewes fed with different energy levels. Seventy-one ewes were used and distributed in three treatments according to the metabolizable energy (ME, Mcal/kg) levels in the diet: CTL = according to the NRC (2007) recommendation for each stage (gestation and lactation); PLUS = CTL plus 10% of ME per kilogram of dry matter; LESS = CTL less 10% ME per kilogram of dry matter. Body weight and body condition score were evaluated a week before the expected date of parturition, a week after giving birth, and at weaning (60 days). Dairy production was evaluated at 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 days after giving birth by the indirect method of the two weighing. The experimental design was analyzed as randomized complete blocks. There were no differences on milk production during almost all the lactation curve. Only on day 50 (P = 0.051), CTL was still at peak, while LESS and PLUS had already decreased their production. However, at 60 days, all treatments were already with low production, justifying weaning in this period. Results of weight and BCS showed a significant difference in all periods evaluates. Ewes in the PLUS diet had greater BW and BCS. The BCS before giving birth is expected to be over 3.5 and treatment LESS was the only one that did not achieve this score (2.66, 3.37, 3.83 for LESS, CTL, and PLUS, respectively). At weaning, ewes fed PLUS and CTL had BCS of 3.51 and 2.92, respectively, but treatment LESS had only 1.82. That is prejudicial for the next mating seasonal and this animal. We concluded that LESS diet interfered with the body reserves of sheep.

scholarly journals Lameness in Sheltered Cows and Its Association with Cow and Shelter Attributes

Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 360 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arvind Sharma ◽  
Clive J. C. Phillips
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
The Body ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Joint Injuries ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Carpal Joint ◽  
Associated Risk Factors

The sheltering of old, unproductive and abandoned cows in traditional cow shelters, known as gaushalas, has been practiced in India since ancient times. Cows are kept in these shelters until they die of natural causes. The welfare of the cows in these shelters was assessed through a cross-sectional study of 54 cow shelters in six states of India. A total of 1620 cows were examined to assess the prevalence of lameness in these cows, and the associated risk factors for lameness were identified through the measurement of animal-based and resource-based welfare indicators. The overall lameness prevalence was 4.2%. The majority (86%) had mild to moderate hock joint swellings but no or only mild carpal joint injuries. Approximately one-half had mild to moderate hock joint hair loss and most were free of hock joint ulcerations. Claw overgrowth was present in almost one half of the cows. Lameness prevalence was positively correlated with coat dirtiness, hock and carpal joint lesions, diarrhea and claw overgrowth scores. In a multivariate analysis, lameness prevalence increased as the Body Condition Score (BCS) decreased and was associated with increased udder dirtiness, the ulceration of the hock joint, carpal joint injuries and claw overgrowth. Resource-based indicators measured at the shelter level suggested that an absence of bedding in the sheds and an increase in the gradient of the shed flooring increased lameness. Addressing the principle risk factors identified for lameness in the sheltered cows (low body condition, dirty udders, lesions on the hock and carpal joints, overgrown claws, and a steep floor gradient) may help to reduce this serious animal welfare problem.

Effect of herbage allowance on productive and reproductive responses of primiparous beef cows grazing on Campos grassland

2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (9) ◽  
pp. 1615 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martín Claramunt ◽  
Andrea Fernández-Foren ◽  
Pablo Soca
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Beef Cows ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
The Body ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Early Postpartum ◽  
Grazing System ◽  
Condition Score

The effects of two levels of herbage allowance (HA, kg DM/kg liveweight (LW)) on forage mass and chemical composition, cow body condition score, cow LW, stocking rate, productive and reproductive responses were evaluated during two consecutive years. Eighty primiparous spring-calving beef cows were allocated to a completely randomised block design of two HA that had an annual average of 2.5 (low) and 4.0 kg DM/kg LW (high) from –150 to 195 days postpartum. The grazing system was continuous, and the put-and-take method was employed to adjust HA. At 86 ± 12 days postpartum, all cows were submitted to calf suckling restrictions with nose plates (12 days) and dietary flushing (2 kg/cow.day of whole-rice bran for 22 days), 6 days before bull introduction. Forage mass was affected by HA (P = 0.004) and year (P = 0.014); the high HA had a greater forage mass than the low HA (1474 vs 1212 ± 86 kg DM/ha; P < 0.05), and Year 2 had a greater forage mass than Year 1 (1545 vs 1134 ± 78 kg DM/ha; P < 0.05). Stocking rate was affected by HA and season (P = 0.0004) interaction. The stocking rate during autumn and spring was greater in low than high HA, and no differences were identified in winter and summer. The body condition score was improved in high HA during autumn and resulted in a greater winter (mid-gestation) body condition score than the low HA without differences during spring-summer (postpartum). Cow LW was lower during autumn, winter and early postpartum (16 days postpartum) in low HA in Year 1 than high HA of Year 1 and high and low HA cows in Year 2. Furthermore, the probability of total pregnancies (0.88 vs 0.59 ± 0.07; P = 0.01) and the calf weight adjusted to 205 days (194 vs 175 ± 16 kg; P < 0.05) were greater in high HA. Calf weight adjusted to 205 days (Year 1: 192 vs Year 2: 177 ± 16 kg; P < 0.05) and survival curves of postpartum anoestrus (P = 0.01) were affected by year but did not affect the probability of conception, early or total pregnancies. In conclusion, the reproductive and productive responses of primiparous beef cows grazing Campos grasslands were improved in high HA and could contribute to alleviating adverse climatic conditions effects.

Insulin sensitivity and fetal growth in ewes maintained in a moderate body condition compared with a lean body condition in late pregnancy

1997 ◽  
Vol 48 (6) ◽  
pp. 753 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. M. McNeill ◽  
R.W. Kelly ◽  
I. H. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Insulin Sensitivity ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Insulin Response ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Similar Rate ◽  
Similar Amount ◽  
Fat Reserves ◽  
Exogenous Glucose ◽  
Condition Score

The possibility that an increase in maternal fatness might further enhance pregnancy-induced insulin insensitivity was investigated in ewes pregnant with one fetus. After selection of fat and lean ewes, they were fed to maintain maternal energy balance throughout pregnancy. A difference in insulin sensitivity of ewes in either a medium condition [score 2·9, 0·32± 0·031 kg fat/kg fat-free empty body (FFBW), n = 7] or lean body condition (score 2·0, 0·16±0.028 kg fat/kg FFBW, n = 8) at Day 136 of pregnancy was inferred by comparing their insulin response to an injection of glucose (350 mg/kg liveweight). The ewes were slaughtered at Day 146 of pregnancy to allow fetal weight, fetal fatness, and maternal fatness to be related to the capacity of the ewe to release insulin. The fatter ewes released more insulin in response to the injection of glucose (2. 54 log area units under the insulin response curve v. 2·22 for the lean ewes, pooled s.e. = 0·092, P < 0·05), yet cleared the glucose from their blood streams at the same rate as the leaner ewes. Because the fat ewes required more insulin to remove a similar amount of exogenous glucose at a similar rate to the lean ewes, we suggest that the fat ewes were less sensitive to insulin. Further, the fetuses of the fatter ewes, while not different in total weight, had higher levels of body fat than those of the leaner ewes (29·4 v. 23·8 g/kg FFBW, pooled s.e. r = 1·32, P < 0·05). Fetal fatness was also positively correlated to the magnitude of insulin release by the ewe (r = 0·61, P < 0·05). Since glucose is the major precursor of fetal fat, these data support our contention that a reduction in maternal insulin sensitivity, brought on by an increase in maternal fatness, could partition more glucose to the fetus. If fat reserves aid lamb survival, lambs from fat ewes rather than lean ewes may have a better chance of survival, particularly in cold conditions.

Maternal fatness influences fetal size in ewes underfed in late pregnancy

1999 ◽  
Vol 50 (7) ◽  
pp. 1171 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. M. McNeill ◽  
R. W. Kelly ◽  
I. H. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Tritiated Water ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Fat Reserves ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Fetal Size ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Energy Maintenance ◽  
Water Dilution

The effect of ewe fatness on fetal weight at term in ewes underfed in late pregnancy was tested by minimising the confounding effect of differences between fatness groups in placental weight. Twin-bearing Merino ewes in a fat (n = 9, condition score 3.8 units) or moderate (n =9, condition score 2.9) body condition were underfed to 0.6 of their requirements for energy maintenance from Day 108 to 144 of pregnancy. The fatness groups were developed over an 80-day period prior to mating by splitting a flock into 2 groups, each of similar mean liveweight and body condition score, and then enhancing the nutrient intake of one whilst restricting that of the other to maintenance levels until mating. After mating, both groups were fed similarly until Day 108 of pregnancy in an attempt to allow the development of placentas of a similar size in each. Maternal fat and protein mobilised between Day 108 and 144 of pregnancy were calculated on a per animal basis as the difference between maternal fat and protein weights at Day 108, estimated by the tritiated water dilution technique, and at Day 144, estimated by chemical analysis of fat and protein tissue following slaughter. At slaughter, the fat ewes had placentas of a size similar to those of the leaner ewes (588 v. 507 g, pooled s.e. = 50.7, P > 0.10) but produced a total weight of fetus that was 14% heavier (6646 v. 5826 g, pooled s.e. = 257.6, P < 0.05). The fat ewes also mobilised more body fat between Day 108 and 144 (3.62 v. 2.58 kg, pooled s.e. = 0.446, P < 0.10), and maintained higher levels of non-esterified fatty acids in their plasma during late pregnancy. There was no effect of ewe fatness on the extent of protein mobilisation (0.66 v. 0.62 kg, pooled s.e. = 0.623, P > 0.10) over late pregnancy. We conclude that additional maternal fat reserves can limit the extent to which fetal growth is restricted in ewes undernourished during late pregnancy.

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