241 EFFECT OF INTRODUCTION OF THE INVERDALE FECUNDITY (FecXI) GENE INTO A TEXEL × SCOTTISH HILL EWE (CHEVIOT) FLOCK ON LITTER SIZE, BIRTHWEIGHT, AND LAMB SURVIVAL

2006 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 228
Author(s):  
F. M. Alink ◽  
J. J. Robinson ◽  
M. J. A. Mylne ◽  
P. Kenyon ◽  
R. G. Watt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Litter Size ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Abnormal Development ◽  
Size Category ◽  
Prenatal Growth ◽  
Morphogenetic Protein ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Lamb Survival

The naturally occurring Inverdale fecundity gene (FecXI), first identified in a Romney flock in New Zealand is located on the X-chromosome and is a point mutation of the bone morphogenetic protein-15 (BMP-15) gene. Although homozygous carriers are infertile due to abnormal development (hypoplasia) of the ovaries, heterozygotes exhibit an increase in ovulation rate and numbers of lambs born, thus making the gene a candidate for improving prolificacy of crossbred hill ewes in a stratified hill and lowground sheep industry. Heterozygous Inverdale gene-carrying crossbred (Texel � Cheviot) ewes (n = 76) and noncarrier controls (n = 18) were mated by non-carrier Texel rams at approximately 18 months of age. Ultrasound pregnancy scanning took place at approximately 70 days of gestation. Lambing records comprised litter size and birthweight data and all losses, including mummified fetuses. Regression analysis tested effects of ewe genotype, pre-mating liveweight, and body condition score on litter size. ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to compare genotype and litter size category effects on dam and offspring data. Mean (� SEM) litter size was 2.6 � 0.10 and 1.9 � 0.11 for FecXI carrier and noncarrier ewes (P < 0.001). Although carrier ewes had lower pre-mating liveweights (60 � 5.2 vs. 63 � 3.8 kg; P < 0.05) and body condition scores (3.1 � 0.29 vs. 3.3 � 0.24; P < 0.01) than noncarrier ewes, litter size was not affected by either factor. Ultrasound scanning was a good predictor (r2 = 0.86; P < 0.001) of the eventual lamb crop. Incidences of singletons, twins, triplets and higher multiples were 8, 38, 42 and 12%, respectively, among FecXI carrier dams. Corresponding incidences among noncarriers were 17, 78, 5, and 0%. Peri- and neonatal losses increased with litter size. Of lambs from single, twin or triplet births, losses were 20% and 6% for FecXI carrier and noncarrier ewe groups, respectively (P = 0.049). Of 32 quadruplets (mean live weight = 2.65 kg), 9 did not survive; the sole set of quintuplets (mean = 1.52 kg) also succumbed. Birth weights of lambs influenced survival (P < 0.001); among quadruplets, for example, survivors were 0.5 kg heavier than counterparts that died. Surviving triplets from FecXI carrier dams were 0.8 kg heavier than non-survivors (3.66 kg vs. 2.86 kg). Overall, in this study mortality was four times greater among lambs below 3 kg live weight than among their heavier counterparts. Consequently, further studies are needed to investigate how Inverdale gene-carrying ewes can be managed during the peri-conception period to optimize litter size, placental function, and prenatal growth for maximum lamb survival. This work was funded by HIE, ANM Group, Britbreed, Ltd., and Harbro Ltd.; F. M. A. is a Genesis Faraday Associate and is sponsored by the SAC Trust, Harbro, Ltd., and Innovis.

scholarly journals Impact of change in body condition score in mid-late pregnancy in ewes fed a mixed diet on lamb survival and performance

2020 ◽  
Vol 82 ◽  
pp. 211-219
Author(s):  
Sue McCoard ◽  
Shen-Yan Hea ◽  
Catherine McKenzie ◽  
Kirsty Hammond ◽  
Tim Smith
Keyword(s):  
Litter Size ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Late Gestation ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Lamb Survival ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Mixed Age ◽  
Positive Effect

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect that body condition score of pregnant ewes fed on turnip and swede crops during mid-late gestation had on offspring survival and performance. Data were collected from 755 multiparous mixed-age ewes carrying 1–4 fetuses. Ewes grazed a turnip crop for 1 month prior to pregnancy scanning with supplementary ryegrass/clover baleage (~75 days gestation) followed by a swede crop with supplementary Lucerne baleage for 1 month following pregnancy scanning (to ~120 days gestation). Ewe body condition score (BCS) at mating, pregnancy scanning and pre-lambing, along with lamb survival and growth rates to weaning were recorded. Lamb survival from pregnancy scanning to tailing differed by litter size (P<0.001) with lower survival in litters with 3 or more lambs compared to singles and twins which did not differ. Improving BCS from pregnancy scanning to 120 days gestation had a positive effect on lamb survival irrespective of litter size and ewe age (P<0.001). Lamb survival in ewes ≥5 years of age, irrespective of litter size, was lower (P<0.001) compared to 2 or 3–4-year-old ewes, which in turn did not differ from each other. The key finding of the study was that loss in BCS from pregnancy scanning to 120 days gestation, negatively impacted on lamb survival, especially in ewes carrying 3 or more fetuses and in ewes >5 years of age irrespective of the number of fetuses carried. Furthermore, there was high variation in BCS change observed in both early and mid-pregnancy.  

scholarly journals Body condition status at mating affects gestation length, offspring yield and return rate in ewes

2018 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 221-228
Author(s):  
Mehmet Akif Cam ◽  
Ali Vaiz Garipoglu ◽  
Koray Kirikci
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Litter Size ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Fat Body ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Return Rate ◽  
Gestation Length ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Condition Score

Abstract. The present study was planned to determine the effect of ewe body condition score (BCS) and parities on fertility, return rate, gestation length, fecundity, litter size and lamb birth weight. Data were collected from 284 heads of ewes with first to fifth parity and raised at a state farm for three consecutive (2002–2004) years. Teaser rams were used to monitor estrus twice daily in the morning and in the evening from September to October. BCSs and body weights (BWs) were recorded at mating and postpartum. The ewes, at mating time in breeding season and within first 6 h after the expulsion of fetal membranes, were divided into four groups on the basis of their BCS: thin (BCS = ≤ 2.0; n=70; 38), medium (BCS = 2.5–3.0; n=122; 142), fat (BCS = 3.5–4.0; n=72; 59) and very fat (BCS = ≥ 4.5; n= 20;17). BCSs and BWs of ewes at postpartum were highly correlated with lamb birth weight (R=0.486, P < 0.01, and R=0.130, P < 0.05, respectively). BCSs and BWs of ewes at postpartum had positive effects on lamb birth weight (Y=3.43 ± 0.10 + 0.130 + 0.047 ewe body condition score (EBCS), P < 0.01; Y= 2.92 ± 0.42 + 0.018 ± 0.009 ewe body weight (EBW), P < 0.05 kg of lamb birth weight per BCS and kilogram of ewe live weight, respectively). The fertility rate, litter size and fecundity were higher in the medium and fat groups than thin and very fat groups (χ2= 10.607, P < 0.01). The BW and BCS at postpartum affected gestation length positively (P < 0.05). Return rate or number of coitus for conception were higher (P < 0.05) in thin and very fat groups than medium and fat groups. The data revealed that the ewes with medium and fat body condition (BCS = 2.5–4.0) scores were profitable.

Estimation in vivo of the chemical composition of the bodies of mature cows

1984 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. A. Wright ◽  
A. J. F. Russel
Keyword(s):  
Body Composition ◽  
Body Fat ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Deuterium Oxide ◽  
Subcutaneous Fat ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Eye Muscle ◽  
Ultrasonic Measurements ◽  
Condition Score

ABSTRACTA number of possible indices of body composition (live weight, skeletal size, total body water as estimated by deuterium oxide dilution, blood and red cell volumes as estimated by Evans Blue dilution, ultrasonic measurements of subcutaneous fat depth and eye-muscle area, and body condition scoring) was examined using 73 non-pregnant, non-lactating, mature cows of Hereford × Friesian, Blue-Grey, British Friesian, Galloway and Luing genotypes, ranging in body condition score from 0·75 to 4·5. Direct measurements of body composition in terms of water, fat, protein and ash were made following slaughter.Live weight, deuterium oxide dilution, ultrasonic measurements of subcutaneous fat depth and eyemuscle area, and body condition score were all considered to be potentially useful predictors of body composition. Combinations of techniques offered better predictions than did any single index. Using a combination of measurements it was possible to predict body fat and protein with a residual s.d. of 13·1 kg and 3·15 kg respectively. Breed differences in the partition of fat among the main adipose tissue depots necessitated the development of specific prediction equations for body fat based on condition score and subcutaneous fat depth for different breeds. Equations remain to be developed for predicting body composition in cows in different physiological states.

The effect of body condition and previous nutrition on the herbage intakes of ewes grazing autumn pastures at two sward heights

1994 ◽  
Vol 58 (2) ◽  
pp. 231-235 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. M. Sibbald ◽  
W. G. Kerr
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Day Treatment ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Feeding Level ◽  
High Body ◽  
Sward Height ◽  
Herbage Intake ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Grazing Period

AbstractTo examine the effects of body condition and previous nutrition on the herbage intake of ewes grazing swards of different heights in autumn, 96 Scottish Blackface X Border Leicester ewes with a wide range of body condition (score 1·75 to 3·50), were initially housed and given 50 g dry matter (DM) per kg metabolic live weight (M)0·75 per day (treatment L) or 95 g DM per kg M0·75 per day (treatment H) of a pelleted dried grass diet (11·6 MJ metabolizable energy per kg DM) for 6 weeks after weaning in July. The H ewes gained more live weight (9·0 v. 2·7 kg) and body condition score (0·39 v. 0·17) than the L ewes. Half the animals from each treatment were then allocated to each of two ryegrass pastures with a sward height of 5 cm (LS) or 10 cm (HS) for a further 6-week grazing period. During the grazing period there was no significant effect of indoor feeding level on herbage intake, but the L ewes gained more live weight (6·4 v. 5·0 kg) than the H ewes. On the HS, compared with the LS sward, mean herbage intakes were higher (70·0 v. 60·5 g DM per kg M0·75) as were gains in live weight and condition score (7·9 v. 3·4 kg; 0·18 v. 0·0). There were no interactions between the effects of sward height and previous feeding level on herbage intake. Ewes in low body condition (< 2·5) at the start of the grazing period ingested the same amount of herbage on both swards (70·3 g DM per kg M0·75) whereas ewes in high body condition (> 2·5) ingested more (67·0 v. 51·6 g DM per kg M0·75) on the HS compared with the LS sward. The responses of ewes in low and high body condition to different sward heights are discussed in relation to appetite drive and aspects of grazing behaviour.

Prediction of energy status in first lactation dairy heifers

1985 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 167-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Ducker ◽  
Rosemary A. Haggett ◽  
W. J. Fisher ◽  
S. V. Morant
Keyword(s):  
Energy Balance ◽  
Confidence Interval ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Weight Change ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Blood Metabolites ◽  
Energy Status ◽  
Dairy Heifers ◽  
Condition Score

ABSTRACTData from a large controlled experiment to investigate the effect of level of nutrition on reproductive performance were used to assess the value of production and blood measures as indicators of energy status in lactating dairy heifers. Live-weight change showed the strongest and most consistent relationship to mean energy balance (the difference between metabolizable energy intake and that used for milk production and maintenance) (P < 0·01 to P < 0·001). Body-condition score at a particular time was more closely related to mean energy balance in the preceding 4-week period (P < 0·05) than current energy balance. There was also a lag in the relationship between energy balance and live-weight change and mean body-condition score. Ultrasonic back fat measurements were significantly correlated with both loin and tailhead body-condition score (P < 0·001) but were more strongly related to mean energy balance in the preceding period (P < 0·05 to P < 0·001) than the body-condition scores.Blood samples were taken from all heifers 2 weeks before calving and 1, 5, 9, 13 and 18 weeks after calving and were analysed for 13 constituents. Concentrations of blood metabolites did not show consistently strong correlations with mean energy balance. The only blood metabolite to be measurably affected by the nutritional treatments applied in lactation was β-hydroxybutyrate.At best, combinations of production measures and blood metabolites were only able to predict the mean daily energy balance with a 95% confidence interval of ±20 MJ for an individual animal although this confidence interval was reduced to ±3 MJ for 100 animals.

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 Effect of di-calcium phosphate on calcium balance and body condition score of dairy cows fed Napier grass

2014 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 197-201
Author(s):  
MZ Rahman ◽  
MY Ali ◽  
KS Huque ◽  
MAI Talukder
Keyword(s):  
Calcium Phosphate ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Napier Grass ◽  
Calcium Balance ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Condition Score

A research work was undertaken to evaluate the feeding effects of di-calcium phosphate (DCP) on calcium balance and body condition score of dairy cows fed Napier grass. The trial was conducted in the village Alokdiar of Shajadpur upazilla under Sirajgonj district. Twenty crossbred lactating dairy cows of 320 ±15.5 kg live weight were used for the trial. Animals were equally and randomly allocated into four groups, T0 (Napier+concentrate), T1 (Napier+concentrate+100g DCP), T2 (Napier+concentrate+150g DCP) and T3 (Napier+concentrate+200g DCP). Total DMI did not differ significantly (p>0.05) among the groups but highly significant differences (p<0.01) were found in Ca intake. Ca balance; and Ca in feces, Ca in urine, Ca in milk and total Ca excretion differed significantly (p<0.05). No significant  difference (p>0.05) was found in DM in feces (%), DM in feces (kg/d) and milk production (L) among the treatment groups except urine excretion. There was a linear increase of body condition score (BCS) with DCP (T1, T2 and T3), but BCS was linearly declined in non DCP diet (T0). Diets with 150g DCP may be suggested for optimizing Calcium balance and body condition score of dairy cows fed Napier grasses.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjas.v43i3.21648 Bang. J. Anim. Sci. 2014. 43 (3): 197-201

scholarly journals Effects on maternal and foetal traits of feeding supplement to grazing pregnant ewes

1998 ◽  
Vol 66 (3) ◽  
pp. 667-673 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Frutos ◽  
O. Buratovich ◽  
F. J. Giràldez ◽  
A. R. Mantecòn ◽  
I. A. Wright
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Uterine Wall ◽  
Fat Reserves ◽  
Large Fluctuations ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Fat Depot ◽  
Grass Growth

AbstractThirty single-bearing Merino ewes were used to examine the effect of feeding supplement, from 91 to 140 days of gestation, on changes in chemical composition of the ewes, on the relationships with live weight and body condition score and on the foetus. Ewes grazed a perennial ryegrass pasture and were offered either no supplement or 500 g per head per day of a concentrate supplement from days 30 to 90 and (or) from days 91 to 140 of pregnancy. Maternal carcass and non-carcass components, uterine wall, foetus and placenta plus cotyledons were chemically analysed. Live weight (LW) and body condition score (BCS) on day 140 were both affected by supplementation during late pregnancy, mobilization of protein and fat being lower in animals receiving supplement. BCS accounted for more variation than LW in the carcass fat depot. Because this depot was the most important source of energy from days 91 to 140 of gestation, this suggests that BCS is a useful estimator of mobilization of maternal fat reserves during this stage of pregnancy. The ability to mobilize reserves and protect foetal growth by Merino ewes in southern Europe, where large fluctuations in grass growth rate exposes them to considerable undernutrition as pregnancy proceeds, was confirmed in this experiment. However, when the nutritional regime is extreme, supplementary feeding to the ewes is recommended, in order to make the whole system economically profitable.

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