scholarly journals The potential interaction between ewe body condition score and nutrition during very late pregnancy and lactation on the performance of twin-bearing ewes and their lambs

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (9) ◽  
pp. 1270-1277 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. M. Cranston ◽  
P. R. Kenyon ◽  
R. A. Corner-Thomas ◽  
S. T. Morris
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Potential Interaction ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Pregnancy And Lactation

scholarly journals Effects of the fat-tailed ewes' body condition scores at lambing on their metabolic profile and offspring growth

2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 183-191
Author(s):  
Yathreb Yagoubi ◽  
Naziha Atti
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Metabolic Profile ◽  
Growth Parameters ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Dietary Treatment ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Pregnancy And Lactation ◽  
Lamb Growth

Abstract. This experiment aimed to evaluate the effect of body condition score (BCS) of fat-tailed Barbarine ewes at lambing on their metabolic profile around parturition and lamb's growth. The experiment was carried out on 69 Barbarine ewes, divided into three groups according to BCS, which were inferior to 2, between 2 and 2.5 and superior to 2.5 for the thin, middle and fat group, respectively. Along the trial, all groups received the same dietary treatment based on hay, pasture and concentrate. Birth weight (Bi-W), weights at 30 and 70 d (W30 and W70) and average daily gains (ADGs) of lambs were recorded. Metabolites were determined at late pregnancy and at the beginning of lactation. Ewes' BCS at lambing had no effect on lambs' Bi-W (P>0.05), which was 3.8, 3.8 and 3.9 kg, respectively, for thin, middle and fat groups. However, W30, W70 and ADG increased with a mother's BCS. A positive correlation between lamb growth parameters and ewe body weight and BCS at weaning was recorded. Energetic metabolites (glucose and triglycerides) and proteic metabolites (creatinine, total protein and urea) were similar among groups according to BCS but significantly different between pregnancy and lactation stages except triglycerides and urea. In conclusion, BCS may be used as dietary management tool during ewe lactation. With the transition from pregnancy to lactation, the content of some metabolites has changed irrespective of BCS; this aspect needs more investigations.

An on-farm study of late pregnancy and lactation performance of ewe lambs and their progeny on lucerne or pasture

2015 ◽  
Vol 77 ◽  
pp. 269-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.R. Stevens ◽  
L. Wright ◽  
P. Mcgill
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Lactation Performance ◽  
Ewe Lambs ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Pregnancy And Lactation ◽  
On Farm

An on-farm demonstration compared the use of perennial ryegrass based pasture or lucerne as the forage source for in-lamb ewe lambs from 2 weeks prior to lambing until weaning in the Te Anau basin. This demonstration, over 2 years, used 632 and 506 in-lamb ewe lambs in 2013 and 2014 respectively with approximately 50% being single-bearing and 50% twin-bearing in both years. Pasture and lucerne were set stocked until docking at approximately 33 days of age and then rotationally grazed thereafter until weaning at approximately 110 days of age. Ewe liveweights and body condition scores tended to be higher when grazed on lucerne during spring and all ewes were at or near two-tooth mating weights at weaning (67 kg). Lamb liveweights at 110 days of age were similar from the pasture and lucerne (33.4 kg). Lamb losses were greater on lucerne (37%) than pasture (28%) in both years, and led to a significantly lower lambing percentage on lucerne. Stocking rate chosen based on previous pasture growth records and potential lucerne yield was greater on lucerne (11.7 ewes/ha) than that on pasture (9.4 ewes/ha). The combined liveweight gain of ewes and their lambs per hectare was significantly greater from lucerne (492 kg/ha) than pasture (398 kg/ ha). Scanning data from the second mating was 201% and 189% in ewes that had grazed on lucerne or pasture during the previous lactation respectively, while ewes weighed 67.7 and 65.1 kg at mating respectively. Lucerne can be used as a forage option to increase the performance of bred ewe lambs but the grazing of young lush growth should be avoided to reduce potential animal health issues. Keywords: body condition score, ewe lambs, lamb liveweight gain, lamb survival, reproduction

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.

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.

scholarly journals Managing the nutrition of twin-bearing ewes during pregnancy using Lifetimewool recommendations increases production of twin lambs

2011 ◽  
Vol 51 (9) ◽  
pp. 813 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. E. Hocking Edwards ◽  
K. J. Copping ◽  
A. N. Thompson
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
South Australia ◽  
The Body ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Pregnancy And Lactation ◽  
Staple Strength

The effect on ewe and lamb production by differential management of single- and twin-bearing Merino ewes during pregnancy and lactation was examined. The hypothesis that the survival and productivity of single- and twin-born progeny is not affected by differential management of single- and twin-bearing ewes was tested. To test this hypothesis, two ewe flocks were monitored on a commercial property in the south-east of South Australia. The body condition score of one flock of ewes was managed according to Lifetimewool recommendations for southern Australian (Lifetimewool flock; n = 464). Lifetimewool recommendations are that body condition score should be 3.0 at mating and then allowed to decline to an average of 2.7, which is maintained until lambing. Twin- and single-bearing ewes were managed as separate mobs after pregnancy scanning to meet their energy requirements. The second flock was managed similarly to the commercial ewe flock and was representative of ewe management practices in the region (normal-practice flock; n = 464). At lambing, the condition score of the Lifetimewool flock was 0.7 condition scores units greater than the normal-practice flock. Ewe clean fleece weight and fibre diameter were greater in the Lifetimewool flock and their lambs had higher survival rates to weaning. Over three shearings, progeny from Lifetimewool ewe flocks produced more clean wool (P < 0.0001) but there was no consistent effect on fibre diameter, staple length or staple strength. Twin-born lambs from ewes managed to Lifetimewool guidelines had a similar liveweight and produced similar quantity and quality of wool to single-born lambs managed to Lifetimewool guidelines, but still suffered higher rates of mortality to weaning. This suggests that it is possible to manage ewes pregnant with twins to ensure that their surviving progeny perform at a level similar to single-born progeny managed under similar targets.

Body Condition Score (BCS) and Body Weight of Nellore Brown Sheep at Various Reproductive Stages in Different Systems of Rearing

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Rangamma ◽  
A. Sarat Chandra ◽  
N. Rajanna ◽  
M. Gnana Prakash ◽  
M. Venkateswarulu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Meat Production ◽  
Daily Routine ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Lactation Period ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Pregnancy And Lactation

Background: Body Condition Score in sheep was used to evaluate the adequacy of previous feed supply, decide potential feed requirements in the future, evaluate individual animal health status, decide animal condition during daily routine, welfare inspection and in meat production systems.Methods: 60 Nellore brown ewes from Livestock Research Station, Mamnoor, Warangal district was randomly allotted to three rearing systems i.e Intensive (G1), Semi-intensive (G2) and Extensive (G3) system of each 20 animals. BCS and Body weight of the sheep was recorded at various reproductive stages i.e. just before breeding of animals, during pregnancy and lactation period to assess the nutritional status and reproductive performance of the sheep.Result: The mean average body weight (Kg) of pregnant ewes in G2 group had no significant (P less than 0.05) difference with G3 group. The average mean body weight (Kg) of ewes in G1 (27.58 ± 0.37kg) group had significant (P less than 0.05) difference with G2 (25.50 ± 0.32kg) group during lactation period of 90 days. The total gain of BCS during pregnancy period in the G1, G2 and G3 groups were 0.63 ± 0.06, 0.53 ± 0.06 and 0.44 ± 0.11, respectively. The overall mean BCS of the ewes 48hrs after lambing was higher in G1 (3.0 ± 0.10) group followed by G2 (2.73 ± 0.10) and G3 (2.38 ± 0.08) group.

scholarly journals Maternal Metabolic Demands Caused by Pregnancy and Lactation: Association with Productivity and Offspring Phenotype in High-Yielding Dairy Ewes

Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 295 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Luis Pesántez-Pacheco ◽  
Ana Heras-Molina ◽  
Laura Torres-Rovira ◽  
María Victoria Sanz-Fernández ◽  
Consolación García-Contreras ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Milk Yield ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Productive Performance ◽  
Multiple Pregnancies ◽  
Dairy Sheep ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Pregnancy And Lactation ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Singleton Pregnancies

Pregnancy and lactation, especially when concurrent, create a rather metabolically demanding situation in dairy ruminants, but little is known about their effects on offspring phenotype and milk yield. Here, we evaluated the impact of pregnancy and lactation on the metabolic traits and productive performance of Lacaune dairy sheep and their offspring. Productive performance was measured in terms of milk yield, body weight (BW), body condition score (BCS), and size. Productivity was assessed during mid-pregnancy (75 ± 5 d) and late pregnancy (142 ± 4 d) and at 52 ± 5 d in the postpartum period. During pregnancy, high-yielding ewes had higher BW, BCS, plasma glucose, cholesterol, β-OHB, and NEFA than low-yielding ewes, but lower levels of lactate and urea. High-yielding animals had lower BCS after lambing, but their lambs showed greater growth. Productivity during lactation was affected by ewe age and parity: Mature ewes (but not maiden sheep) whose BCS increased steeply during pregnancy yielded more milk in the subsequent lactation than those whose BCS did not increase. Lamb BW and size were positively associated with milk yield in the subsequent lactation. Mature ewes had higher yields than maiden sheep, and mature ewes with multiple pregnancies produced more milk than those with singleton pregnancies. Ewes with male singleton pregnancies also showed higher yield than those with female singletons. These results demonstrate that high-yielding dairy sheep, when appropriately fed and managed, can adequately cover the metabolic demands of pregnancy and high milk production (even when concurrent) without losing productivity.

A comparison of chopped/un-chopped big bale silage, pit silage and hay when offered with concentrates to twin bearing ewes

1999 ◽  
Vol 1999 ◽  
pp. 129-129
Author(s):  
T.F. Crosby ◽  
P.J. Quinn ◽  
J.J. Callan ◽  
B. Flynn ◽  
J.V. O'Doherty ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Sugar Beet ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Gestation Length ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Beet Pulp ◽  
Terminal Sire

Big bale silage has become increasingly popular on many livestock farms in Ireland yet there is limited information on its use for sheep. The objective of this experiment was to compare the effects of feeding chopped or unchopped big bale silage, pit silage and hay when supplemented with either a barley or a molassed sugar beet pulp based concentrate when fed to ewes in late pregnancy on feed intake, ewe weight and body condition score changes, gestation length, lamb birth weight and colostrum yield.Sixty four mature lowland cross ewes (8/treatment) were oestrus synchronised in October and mated to terminal sire breeds (Suffolk, Texel or Charollais). The ewes were housed, winter shorn and pregnancy scanned in December, following which twin bearing animals were allocated to a 4 x 2 factorial experiment and individually fed either un-chopped or chopped big bale silage which had been wilted for 36-48 hours as is usual for this type of forage, pit silage, which had been wilted for 18-24 hours or hay.

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