The effect of weaning weight on subsequent lamb growth rates

2000 ◽  
pp. 75-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
T.J. Fraser ◽  
D.J. Saville
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Weaning Weight ◽  
Young Stock ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Lamb Growth ◽  
Weight Data

The effect of weaning weight on the subsequent growth rate of lambs was estimated from data collected at Winchmore Research Station. The lamb weight data were collected over a 3-year period involving dryland and irrigated farmlets with two contrasting forage systems. Lambs were weighed at 2-weekly intervals with the weights for the periods immediately pre- and post-weaning being used for the comparisons in this study. Results overall indicated that, following adjustments for pasture type, gender, birth and rearing rank, heavier lambs at weaning had faster growth rates post-weaning than lighter lambs. However, lighter lambs suffered a lower drop in growth rate (defined as growth rate before weaning minus growth rate post-weaning) than heavier lambs. This was universal across both pasture types, both genders and all combinations of birth and rearing ranks. Possible explanations are that the lighter lambs at weaning were receiving less milk from their mothers or that they were under some mob pressure and had limited access to quality pastures. In some cases, the lighter lambs even increased their growth rates post-weaning when compared to pre-weaning. It is suggested that weaning light lambs is an option for farmers, particularly when feed supply is limiting or when dry stock are required to clean up poor quality pastures and set up high quality feed for young stock. Keywords: dryland, irrigated, lamb growth, lamb weaning, pasture quality, weaning weights

scholarly journals Ewe reproductive performance and growth rate of suckling-lambs on endophyte-infected perennial ryegrass pasture

1999 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 19-26
Author(s):  
R.H. Watson ◽  
R.G. Keogh ◽  
M.F. Mcdonald
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Ovulation Rate ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
One Year ◽  
Lamb Growth

Two groups (n=39) of Romney breeding ewes were maintained under the same grazing management on either endophyte-infected (E+) or endophytefree (E-) perennial ryegrass pasture for two years (1997-1998) following a one-year equilibration period. The ewes were naturally mated in March each year and ovulation rate at 1st mating was measured, and conception and the number of lambs born and weaned were recorded. All ewes were weighed monthly and lamb growth rates were determined between birth and weaning. Mean mating date was delayed by 1.8 days (P

Effects of crossbred ewe genotype and ram genotype on ewe prolificacy, lamb viability and lamb output in the lowland sector

2002 ◽  
Vol 139 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. E. R. DAWSON ◽  
A. F. CARSON
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Northern Ireland ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Genetic Improvement ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Growth Index ◽  
The Other ◽  
Lean Growth ◽  
And Control ◽  
Lamb Growth

A study was carried out on five lowland farms in Northern Ireland over 3 years to investigate the effect of crossbred ewe and ram genotype on ewe prolificacy, lamb viability and weaned lamb output. Four crossbred ewe genotypes were sourced from six hill farms involved in a previous study – Bluefaced Leicester×Blackface (BLXB), Texel×Blackface (TXB), Suffolk×Cheviot (SXCH) and Texel×Cheviot (TXCH). On each farm, groups of 20–30 of each crossbred ewe genotype were mated with Suffolk or Texel rams. Throughout the 3 years of the study, the ewe genotypes lambed at 1, 2 and 3 years of age. Within each of the ram breeds, high lean growth index rams sourced from UK sire reference schemes were compared with rams sourced from flocks not involved in objective genetic improvement programmes (control). BLXB ewes were the most prolific of the four ewe genotypes producing 1.73 lambs per ewe lambed compared with 1.47 for TXB, 1.46 for SXCH and 1.41 for TXCH (P<0.001). Lamb mortality was similar for the four ewe genotypes, thus number of lambs weaned was greatest for the BLXB ewes (P<0.001) with the other three crosses producing similar numbers of lambs. A greater proportion (P<0.05) of SXCH ewes lambed without assistance compared with BLXB and TXB ewes and a greater proportion of TXCH ewes had abundant supplies of colostrum compared with the other crosses (P<0.10). Output of weaned lamb per ewe lambed and per ewe metabolic live weight (P<0.001) was greatest in the BLXB ewes. Ewe productivity, prolificacy, number of lambs weaned and the proportion of ewes lambing without assistance increased with ewe age (P<0.001). Lamb growth rate from birth to 6 weeks and from birth to weaning increased with ewe age (P<0.05). Crossbred ewes lambing at 3 years old had a greater output of weaned lamb compared with ewes lambing at 1 and 2 years old (P<0.001). Ram genotype had no effect on ewe prolificacy, lamb viability or pre-weaning growth rates, although Texel-sired lambs had lower birth weights than Suffolk-sired lambs and control-sired lambs had lower birth weights than high lean index-sired lambs (P<0.05).

Some effects of formaldehyde treatment of hay or silage and level of barley intake on the production of crossbred lambs fed in pens

1976 ◽  
Vol 16 (81) ◽  
pp. 452
Author(s):  
MF Sharkey ◽  
RW Hodge ◽  
IF Davis ◽  
B Bogdanovic
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Energy Intake ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
In Vivo Studies ◽  
Growth Study ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
Formaldehyde Treatment ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Lamb Growth

Hay and silage treated with formaldehyde were compared with untreated hay and silage during in vivo studies of digestibility, and in growth studies where the forages were fed with and without barley to 6-month-old crossbred lambs. In the growth study there were 20 treatment groups (four forage types offered ad libitum x five barley levels 0, 100, 300, 500 and ad libitum g day-1). Sheep were fed for 6 and 12 weeks for groups fed silage and hay respectively following which animals were slaughtered. On a digested basis, barley contributed from 0 to 76 per cent of digested energy intake. Lamb growth rate varied between 0 and 150 g day-1 and was linearly related to intake of digested DM. Growth rates were above 100 g day-1 where barley constituted 60 to 70 per cent of this intake. Silage and hay with digestibilities of 62 to 65 per cent barely maintained sheep liveweights when fed as a sole diet. The sheep ate more hay than silage and treating the forage with formaldehyde did not significantly increase intake or growth rate.

The comparative productivity of five ewe breeds. 1. Lamb growth and survival

1980 ◽  
Vol 20 (104) ◽  
pp. 272 ◽  
Author(s):  
KD Atkins
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Birth Weight ◽  
Survival Rate ◽  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Dual Purpose ◽  
Growth And Survival ◽  
Body Weights ◽  
Formed Part ◽  
Lamb Growth

An experiment was conducted at Temora Agricultural Research Station to compare birth weights, growth rates to weaning, and survival of lambs from five breeds. These data formed part of a larger study comparing the productivity of these breeds as possible dual-purpose ewe breeds. The breeds were a Border Leicester X Merino fixed halfbred (BLM), Corriedale, Polwarth, and a South Australian strong wool (S.A. Merino) and a medium wool Peppin strain of Merino. The descending order of ranking of the breeds on birth weight and growth rate to weaning was BLM, Corriedale, S.A. Merino, Polwarth and Peppin Merino. A significant breed x year interaction in pre-weaning growth rate was recorded, since the absolute differences between breeds increased as the overall mean growth rate increased. Breed means for the survival rate of single-born lambs ranged from 80.7 to 86.4 lambs weaned per 100 lambs born and they were not significantly different from each other. The mean survival rate of multipleborn lambs from the S.A. Merino and Polwarth breeds were 65.0 and 69.5 respectively, and these were significantly lower than the survival rate of multiples from the other breeds (76.8 to 80.4). Within breeds, birth weight was found to be positively related to survival at low birth weights but negatively related to survival at high body weights

The comparative productivity of five ewe breeds. 4. Growth and carcase characteristics of purebred and crossbred lambs

1981 ◽  
Vol 21 (109) ◽  
pp. 172 ◽  
Author(s):  
KD Atkins ◽  
AR Gilmour
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Agricultural Research ◽  
The Other ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Agricultural Research Station ◽  
Breed Differences ◽  
Total Productivity ◽  
Economic Comparison ◽  
Australian Merino

The growth to slaughter and carcase characteristics of purebred and crossbred lambs from five ewe breeds were compared in an experiment in 1971 and 1972 at Temora Agricultural Research Station. The ewe breeds were a Border Leicester x Merino fixed halfbred (BLM), Corriedale, Polwarth, a South Australian strong wool (SA Merino) and a medium wool Peppin strain of Merino. In each year, ewes of each breed were joined either to their own breed of ram or to Dorset Horn rams. The analysis used tested whether differences between ewe breeds in crossbred performance were halved compared with the differences between ewe breeds in purebred performances. The results supported this hypothesis for all characters measured. The largest breed effects on lamb performance were found for growth rate. Compared with the overall mean, the growth rates to weaning for purebred lambs were 118%,102%, 90%, 99% and 91% 10 for the BLM, Corriedale, Polwarth, SA Merino and Peppin Merino, respectively. The deviations from 100% for crossbred lambs were halved. Differences between breeds for carcase traits were estimated at the same carcase weight. South Australian Merino lambs had a lower dressing percentage than lambs from .the other breeds. Polwarths had the greatest depth of fat at the 12- 13th rib. Skins from Merino lambs had shorter staples and higher visual counts than skins from the other breeds. However, it was concluded that breed differences in carcase and skin characters, independent of carcase weight, were of little value in an economic comparison of the breeds for total productivity.

A comparison of sires of Suffolk and Dutch Texel breeds and ewes of Greyface, Suffolk Cheviot and Dutch Texel breeds in terms of food intake, prolificacy and lamb growth rates

1999 ◽  
Vol 68 (4) ◽  
pp. 567-575 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. D. Johnston ◽  
R. W. J. Steen ◽  
D. J. Kilpatrick ◽  
D. E. Lowe ◽  
D. M. B. Chestnutt
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Lower Number ◽  
The Other ◽  
Lower Growth ◽  
Lamb Growth

AbstractA comparison was made over 2 years of sires of Suffolk and Dutch Texel breeds and ewes of Greyface (Border Leicester × Scottish Blackface), Suffolk Cheviot and Dutch Texel breeds in terms of food intake, prolificacy and lamb growth rates under a grass-based system of production. Suffolk Cheviot ewes consumed significantly more silage dry matter than the Greyface ewes in both years of the study. There was no overall difference between Greyface and Suffolk Cheviot ewes in terms of prolificacy. However lambs from Suffolk Cheviot ewes had a higher growth rate than lambs from Greyface ewes from birth to weaning in year 1 (P < 0·01). In the comparison of the three ewe breeds sired by Dutch Texel rams in year 2, Dutch Texel ewes produced a similar number of lambs to the other genotypes but had a higher incidence of difficult lambings, higher lamb mortality and consequently a lower number of lambs weaned. Purebred Dutch Texel male lambs had lower growth rates than crossbred Dutch Texel lambs (143 compared with 158 glday for lambs from Greyface ewes and 166 (s.e. 13.4) glday for lambs from Suffolk Cheviot ewes in year 1 and 183 compared with 251 and 248 respectively (s.e. 10.9) glday in year 2). Lambs sired by Suffolk rams had higher growth rates than those sired by Dutch Texel rams (252 compared with 224 (s.e. 5.4) glday) in year 2.

scholarly journals Effects of weaning age and weight on lamb growth rate of Morada Nova breed raised in a tropical extensive production system

2008 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 784-788 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arturo Bernardo Selaive -Villarroel ◽  
Marcus Brocardo Maciel ◽  
Nelson Manzoni de Oliveira
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Statistical Model ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
White Variety ◽  
Weaning Weight ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Extensive System ◽  
Weaning Age ◽  
Lamb Growth

The aim of this research were to study the effect of weaning age and weight on post-growing rate (PWG) and to estimate the optimal weaning age (WA) and weight (WW) of Morada Nova-white variety breed lambs raised under extensive system conditions. A total of 31 male and female lambs were evaluated, being 19 lambs born in April/May 2001 and 12 lambs born in February/March 2002. Lambs were distributed in the following treatments at weaning: 1) weaning age = T1: weaned at 60 days; T2: weaned at 75 days; T3: weaned at 90 days, and 2) weaning weight = T1: weaned with 9 to 10.4kg weigth; T2: weaned with 10.5 to 12.4kg weight and T3: weaned with above 12.5kg weight. The PWG was recorded through successive weightings done every fourteen days from weaning to 180 days of age. Data were analysed through a statistical model that included age and weight at weaning, sex and year of birth as fixed effects. Lambs weaned with 60, 75 and 90 days of age showed non-significant differences (P>0.05) on PWG. However, WW had a significant influence (P<0.05) on lamb weight. The group weaned with 9-10.4kg had smaller live weight than those weaned with 10.5-12.4kg or above 12.5kg. No differences were found between these last two groups. Also, sex had significant effect (P<0.05) on lamb growing with males being heavier than females (20.7kg and 17.6kg, respectively). Year of birth did not affect PWG. It was concluded that weight at weaning is more important than age at weaning on post-weaning growing of lambs. The most efficient live weaning weight on white Morada Nova lambs raised in extensive system production is over 10.5kg.

Performance of crossbred progeny of Trangie Fertility Merino and Booroola Merino rams and Poll Dorset ewes. 1. Lamb birth weight, survival and growth

1995 ◽  
Vol 35 (8) ◽  
pp. 1069 ◽  
Author(s):  
DG Hall ◽  
NM Fogarty ◽  
AR Gilmour
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Birth Weight ◽  
Environmental Effects ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Age And Growth ◽  
Weaning Weight ◽  
Survival And Growth ◽  
The Common ◽  
Lamb Survival

Merino rams of the Trangie Fertility and Booroola strains were joined to Poll Dorset ewes in single sire mating groups over 3 years. Forty sires produced a total of 1250 lambs in 885 litters from 451 ewes. Lamb birth weight averaged 4.1 kg, 80.8% of lambs survived to 3 days of age and growth rates to weaning (mean 93 days) averaged 289 g/day. Lambs with Trangie Fertility sires grew 15 g/day faster and were 1.3 kg heavier at weaning than those lambs with Booroola sires (P<0.001). There were no effects of sire strain on birth weight or lamb survival. Birth weight increased with dam liveweight in mid-pregnancy (P<0.001), and weaning weight and growth rate increased with dam liveweight at joining (P<0.001). Survival of lambs was predominantly a function of birth weight. Lambs weighing 4 kg at birth from primiparous dams had survival rates of 76% compared with 88% for lambs from multiparous dams (P<0.01). No lamb under 2.0 or over 6.3 kg survived, and 48% of deaths occurred within 1 day of birth. Dystocia, particularly of heavy, single-born lambs, caused 53% of observed lamb deaths. For the traits birth weight, lamb survival, weaning weight and growth rate, the direct heritabilities were 0.24 � 0.10, 0.05 � 0.05, 0.19 � 0.10 and 0.12 � 0.08 respectively; the corresponding maternal heritabilities were 0.08 � 0.05, 0.05 � 0.04, 0.05 � 0.05 and 0.07 � 0.05 respectively; and the common environmental effects among litter mates (c2) were 0.57 � 0.08, 0.47 � 0.08, 0.15 � 0.08 and 0.13 � 0.08 respectively.

Barley grass seed and shearing effects on summer lamb growth and pelt quality

1996 ◽  
Vol 36 (7) ◽  
pp. 777
Author(s):  
PJ Holst ◽  
DG Hall ◽  
DF Stanley
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Grass Seed ◽  
Lamb Growth

The effects of mature barley grass (Hordeum spp.) pasture on lamb growth rates, carcass180 crossbred lambs finished on summer pastures. The effect of shearing at weaning, using 2 types of combs (traditional or cover) was compared with a 'no shearing' treatment.Exposure to barley grass pasture over November and December produced growth rates of 82 � 5 g/day for lambs slaughtered in January compared with growth rates of 141 � 5 g/day on lucerne pasture over the same period. On the barley grass pasture, shearing gave an immediate and sustained advantage (P<0.05) in growth rate but no difference between cover or traditional comb. Carcass weights were 21.4 � 0.3 and 19.0 � 0.4 kg for lambs grazing lucerne pasture and barley grass pasture, respectively. Shearing reduced pelt damage from barley grass seed to the extent that 85% of unshorn pelts had >5 scars per pelt compared with 13% in pelts from shorn lambs. Type of shearing comb did not influence the result. The results suggest that maturing barley grass pastures must be avoided if adequate growth rates are to be achieved in weaner lambs.

Crossbred lamb growth and carcase characteristics of some Australian sheep breeds

1979 ◽  
Vol 19 (99) ◽  
pp. 407 ◽  
Author(s):  
PP Cotterill ◽  
EM Roberts
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Muscle Length ◽  
Leg Length ◽  
Eye Muscle ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Breed Differences ◽  
Australian Sheep ◽  
Breed Comparison ◽  
Lamb Growth

A breed comparison involving 31 2 crossbred progeny of three breeds of sire (Poll Dorset, Suffolk, and Lincoln) and five breeds of dam (Dorset Horn x Merino, Border Leicester x Merino, South Australian Merino, and Peppin Merino) was made between 1973 and 1975 in the western Riverina of New South Wales. The lambs were fed a post-weaning feedlot ration at one of two levels and were slaughtered when they reached 35 kg liveweight. Characters measured were: pre-weaning and postweaning growth rate, dressing percentage, carcase length, carcase leg length, kidney + pelvic fat weight, eye muscle length and depth, rib fat depth, and leg + loin fat and muscle percentage. Carcase characters were adjusted to a constant carcase weight. Important breed differences were those associated with rib fat depth and growth rate. The Suffolk- BL x M cross had high pre-weaning and post-weaning growth rates, but BL x M dams produced lambs with greater rib fat depths. The Suffolk-DH x M and Suffolk-DR x M crosses represented the best compromise between rib fat depth and growth, but their post-weaning growth rates were substantially less than the Suffolk-BL x M. These breed differences for rib fat depth and growth rate were not dependent on the level of post-weaning nutrition.

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