Mating activity and reproductive performance in Merino flocks where ram percentages are 1.0, 0.5 and 0.25

1982 ◽  
Vol 22 (117) ◽  
pp. 268 ◽  
Author(s):  
DG Fowler
Keyword(s):  
Direct Observation ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Physical Contact ◽  
Mating Activity ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Service Activity ◽  
Second Period

Mature Merino rams were joined at rates of one ram to 100 ewes (1.0%), one ram to 200 ewes (0.5%) and one ram to 400 ewes (0.25%) in paddocks at Richmond, New South Wales. Fresh rams were introduced each day of joining and mating activity was measured and behaviour was studied by direct observation. Thirty-eight days after the removal of entire rams, the ewes were slaughtered and reproductive tracts were collected and examined. As ram percentage fell so also did services per ewe (4.3 to 2.2), number of ewes that mated (6.2 to 3.3/d) and the percentage of ewes that became pregnant (88.8 to 60.4%). Ram service activity remained constant as the number of ewes per ram increased. There were increases in the number of oestrous ewes in physical contact with and crowding the rams and in the number of ewes returning to be served in the second period of joining. The study suggests that the percentage of mature Merino rams joined with mature Merino ewes should not be less than one, because below this value, reproductive performance declines. The decline may be due to oestrous ewes crowding around the ram, thus preventing rams from increasing service activity thereby reducing services per ewe, ewes mated and ewes pregnant.

The effect of lambing performance on the face cover of ewes

1964 ◽  
Vol 4 (12) ◽  
pp. 86 ◽  
Author(s):  
RB Dun ◽  
BH Clinton ◽  
TH Crofts ◽  
JOC Furner ◽  
AC Godlee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
New South ◽  
Full Range ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
South Wales ◽  
The Face ◽  
Average Face

Face cover was scored on 1979 maiden ewes mated on seven commercial properties in New South Wales. Results from four muffled flocks (full range of face cover scores) showed a small regression of percentage ewes wet on face cover scored prior to mating (b = -2.9, P<0.01). There was no relationship between these measurements in three open faced flocks (no ewes with face cover above score 4). A second score for face cover, given when the ewes had lambs at foot, was very strongly related to percentage wet ewes (b = -7.5, P<0.001, for muffled flocks and b = -6.3, P<0.01, for open faced flocks). The importance of time of scoring in determining the strength of the relation between reproductive performance and face cover, was caused by wet ewes dropping 0.6 grades in average face cover score between mating and marking. Dry ewes maintained their level of face cover.

Effect of prolonged undernutrition on the recovery and reproductive performance of maiden Merino ewes

1967 ◽  
Vol 7 (24) ◽  
pp. 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
P McInnes ◽  
TJ Grainger ◽  
MD Smith
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
The Other ◽  
First Year ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Feeding Trials ◽  
The Mean

Data are presented on the recovery and reproductive performance of 2 1/2-year-old maiden Merino ewes after a prolonged period of undernutrition. The 217 sheep had been hand-fed on a submaintenance ration in pen feeding trials at Glenfield, New South Wales. During the seven months of the trials they had lost 6 kg (28 to 22 kg) body weight. They were transported to Condobolin in south-western New South Wales, divided into two treatment groups and run on good quality pastures. One group was joined immediately (May 1959) and again ten months later, and the other group was mated after six months at Condobolin (in October 1959) and again 12 months later. The ewes recovered rapidly. The mean weight of both groups had reached 30 kg within six weeks and 40 kg within six months. In the first year 73 of the 100 May-mated ewes bore lambs, but only 38 of these lambs were weaned. Ewes bearing lambs had a higher body weight at the start of joining and gained more during joining than the barren ewes. At the other three joinings (October 1959, May 1960, October 1960) lambing percentage was from 86-89 and weaning percentage from 62-69-both normal for the district. The proportion of twin lambs (3-6 per cent) was low. Wool weight in 1959 was not affected by time of mating or by pregnancy.

The association between face cover and the productivity of Merino ewes in twelve NSW flocks

1967 ◽  
Vol 7 (28) ◽  
pp. 412
Author(s):  
JP Drinan ◽  
RB Dun
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Negative Association ◽  
The Body ◽  
Positive Correlation ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Body Weights ◽  
The Face ◽  
Fleece Weight

The association between the face cover and productivity of more than 3000 Merino ewes has been examined in 12 flocks located in the major sheep producing areas of New South Wales. Each flock was divided into Open (scores 1 and 2), Moderate (scores 3 and 4), and Muffled (scores 5 and 6) groups. A significant negative association between face cover and reproductive performance was apparent in two flocks that contained appreciable numbers of muffled-faced ewes. A similar trend was apparent in another Muffled flock, but in one other Muffled flock and four Open flocks, there was no evidence of such an association. The results from the remaining four flocks were not considered, due to the possibility that the results were confounded by face cover scoring after joining. In one Muffled flock, the body weights of weaner lambs were negatively correlated with their dams' face cover. A relationship between face cover score and total greasy fleece weight, corrected for previous reproductive performance, was absent from most flocks and negative in two, despite evidence of a positive correlation with belly weight. There was a trend to inferior fleeces of finer trade count in Moderate and Muffled groups of several flocks. Excess face cover was found to be an undesirable attribute in Merino flocks. Its importance was greatest in flocks containing appreciable numbers of muffled-faced ewes

Production responses in selenium supplemented sheep in northern New South Wales. 2. Liveweight gain, wool production and reproductive performance in young Merino ewes given selenium and copper supplements

1982 ◽  
Vol 22 (115) ◽  
pp. 24 ◽  
Author(s):  
JF Wilkins ◽  
RJ Kilgour ◽  
AC Gleeson ◽  
RJ Cox ◽  
SJ Geddes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Copper Treatment ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Selenium Treatment

Young Merino ewes on five commercial properties in northern New South Wales were supplemented with selenium and their production was compared with untreated flock mates. They were studied from weaning till first lambing at about two years of age. Treatments of 5 mg selenium were given orally every six weeks for approximately 12 months. Copper treatments were also included to test for a possible concurrent deficiency or interaction with selenium. There were significant responses to selenium in liveweight in four of the five flocks and in wool production in two of the flocks at both shearings. Reproductive performance at first mating was also significantly better in two flocks. There were no beneficial effects of copper treatment nor were there any significant interactions with selenium treatment in any aspect of production measured.

scholarly journals A survey of the meat goat industry in Queensland and New South Wales. 2. Herd management, reproductive performance and animal health

2016 ◽  
Vol 56 (9) ◽  
pp. 1533 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. M. Nogueira ◽  
B. Gummow ◽  
C. P. Gardiner ◽  
J. Cavalieri ◽  
L. A. Fitzpatrick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
New South ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Poor Performance ◽  
Gastrointestinal Parasites ◽  
Herd Management ◽  
High Rainfall ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Boer Goats

An interview-based questionnaire survey was conducted on 31 goat properties in New South Wales and Queensland in 2013. This study has gathered information on goat herd management, reproductive performance and animal health, and has identified constraints that may limit goat productivity. Producers from high-rainfall regions reported having full blood Boer goats for stud breeding. In contrast, producers from pastoral regions had rangeland goats and Boer-cross goats. Overall, 87% of the producers identified a natural breeding season in goats and 61% separated kids from their mothers at weaning. The weaning age varied between 3.0 and 6.0 months. A total of 52% of producers castrated male kids. Only 10% of producers used ultrasound to conduct pregnancy diagnosis on their goats. The reported pregnancy rate was 60% for the pastoral regions and 94% for the high-rainfall regions. The average prolificacy was 1.4 kids/doe and the kidding interval was 12 months. Overall, 68% of producers fed their goat herd with supplements, with the exception that most producers from western New South Wales and south-western Queensland did not use supplements. Producers considered gastrointestinal parasites (61%) and body lice (48%) as the main diseases associated with their goat herds, although only 52% mentioned drenching the animals with anthelmintics. In general, properties in the pastoral regions showed low pregnancy and kidding rates, early age at first mating, high mortality rates, poor performance of Boer bucks and lower weights and weight gain compared with properties in the high-rainfall regions. The survey has highlighted areas that require further study to validate the observations of producers, for instance, factors that may be limiting the fertility of Boer goats in rangeland environments, the incidence of diseases, the use of Kidplan and management activities to improve goat productivity.

Seasonal variation in reproductive performance of Merino ewes in northern New South Wales

1962 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 69 ◽  
Author(s):  
JF Barrett ◽  
TF Reardon ◽  
LJ Lambourne
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Variation ◽  
Birth Weight ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
The Other ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Group A

Two groups of Merino ewes were observed for five years to determine the variation within years and to make comparisons between years in the numbers of ewes exhibiting oestrus, in fertility, and in lamb birth weights. A group of 35 ewes (continuous), was run constantly with vasectomized rams and services were recorded. From the other (changing) group, a fresh sub-group of 15 ewes was joined with fertile rams every four to six weeks; services were recorded, together with lambing performance and lamb birth weights.Distinct breeding and anoestrous seasons similar to those shown by other workers were observed in both groups of ewes. However, the onset of oestrous activity was a month earlier in the changing ewes than in the continuous ewes.Fertility was low during spring and early summer and reached a maximum in autumn.The birth weight of the lambs appeared to be predominantly influenced by the ewes' nutrition during pregnancy.

Supplementing Merino ewes at mating for reproductive gain in central western New South Wales

1983 ◽  
Vol 23 (122) ◽  
pp. 259
Author(s):  
GD Denney
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Ovulation Rate ◽  
Feeding Period ◽  
Barrel Medic ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Native Pasture ◽  
Ad Libitum

In four experiments at Condobolin on the Central Western slopes of New South Wales between 1976 and 1979, mature Merino ewes were given supplements for four to five weeks over mating and the effects on their reproductive performance were recorded. The ewes were run on barrel medic or native pasture with mating commencing in late February or early March each year. The supplements were: experiment 1 -1upins (0.25 kg/d), oats (0.25 kg/d); experiment 2-lupins (0.25 kg/d), oats (0.25 kg/d); experiment 3-lupins (0 25 kg/d), lupins (ad libitum), lupins (0.25 kg/d) with ad libitum oats and lucerne hay; experiment 4-lupins (0.25 kg/d). In experiment 4, ewe liveweight was manipulated in the pre-feeding period to obtain two liveweight classes at the start of supplementation. In the three to four weeks before mating, ewes either maintained or lost weight in experiments 1,2 and 4. However, in experiment 3, ewe liveweight increased after heavy summer rains caused an abundance of pasture. The only significant effect of any supplement on flock reproduction was to increase the ovulation rate. This resulted from lupin supplementation but only in two of four years (experiments 1 and 4). However, on these occasions, lambing rates did not significantly increase due to three factors: more barren ewes, higher ova loss or greater peri-natal lamb loss. Oats supplementation in experiments 1 and 2 did not significantly increase reproductive performance, nor was there an effect of any supplement in experiment 3. The results indicate that repeatable reproductive responses to lupin supplementation are unlikely to occur in the area of the study.

A comparison of the reproductive performance of ewes grazing Dwalganup of Bacchus Marsh subterranean clover of a mixture of lucerne and burr medic, before and during mating

1965 ◽  
Vol 5 (17) ◽  
pp. 106 ◽  
Author(s):  
NT Clark
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Trifolium Subterraneum ◽  
Wagga Wagga ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Burr Medic ◽  
Bio Assay

At Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, three groups, each of 90 Border Leicester x Merino ewes, were grazed for two and a half weeks before joining, and for the six weeks of joining on pastures dominated by Dwalganup subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.), Bacchus Marsh subterranean clover, and lucerne-medic. Lambing percentages were Dwalganup 74, Bacchus Marsh 30, and lucerne-medic 93. The percentages of non-pregnant ewes were 47, 30, and 33 in the Dwalganup, Bacchus Marsh, and lucerne groups respectively. These results are compared with bio-assay values for the oestrogenic potency of the pastures.

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