Effect of nutrition on the response in ovulation rate in Merino ewes following short-term lupin supplementation and insulin administration

Abstract

Two experiments investigated the influence of the basal plane of nutrition on the response in ovulation rate in mature Merino ewes fed lupin grain supplements or given exogenous insulin. The first experiment studied the effect of basal nutrition on the response of ewes to short-term lupin supplementation. In the second experiment the effect of insulin on ovulation rate was studied. There were eight equal groups of ewks (n = 60, 2 groupsltreatment). Four groups were fed wheat chaff (500 g sheep-1 day-1) and the others fed wheat chaff (800 g sheep-1 day-1) plus a concentrate pellet (350 g sheep-1 day-1). On each plane of nutrition lupins were offered (750 g sheep-1 day-1) to 2 groups for 10 da..