Journal article
Improving the nutrition of Merino ewes during pregnancy and lactation increases weaning weight and survival of progeny but does not affect their mature size
AN Thompson, MB Ferguson, AJD Campbell, DJ Gordon, GA Kearney, CM Oldham, BL Paganoni
Animal Production Science | Published : 2011
DOI: 10.1071/AN09139
Abstract
Lamb growth to weaning, and during the period immediately following weaning, influences post-weaning mortality and may affect mature size. The hypothesis tested in the experiments reported in this paper was that changes in the maternal liveweight of Merino ewes during pregnancy and lactation could predict the weight at weaning, post-weaning survival and mature size of their progeny. At two sites (Vic. and WA) in each of two years, a wide range in the liveweight profiles of ewes was generated during pregnancy and lactation by varying the amount of supplements fed and feed on offer grazed. Across the four experiments this resulted in progeny weights ranging from 13.8 to 28.3 kg just before wea..
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Funding Acknowledgements
This work was funded by Australian Wool Innovation Limited, Department of Primary Industries, Victoria and Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia. The authors thank David and Fiona Robertson and Bill, Kay and Geoff Sandilands for providing the research sites, experimental sheep and ongoing support for the `Lifetimewool' project. Mr Brian Hurley, Mr Tom Plaisted, Ms Kazue Tanaka and Ms Amber Walker are thanked for their invaluable technical assistance.