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Journal article
Should lambs born to one-year-old ewes and grown to heavy live weights be retained as replacements and mated at seven months of age?
New Zealand journal of agricultural research / the Royal Society of New Zealand, Vol.68(5)
2024
Appears in Open Access via Read & Publish Agreements
Abstract
The lifetime productivity and efficiency of singleton- and twin-born ewe lambs born to one-year-old ewes were compared with twin-born ewe lambs born to mixed-age ewes. Romney ewe lambs either born as twins to mixed-age ewes (Heavier n = 135 and Control n = 135), or to one-year-old ewes as singletons (L1; n = 135) or twins (L2; n = 88) were included. The Heavier ewes weighed 47.9 ± 0.36 kg at ewe lamb breeding while Control ewes weighed 44.9 ± 0.38 kg. The lifetime number of lambs born and weaned, and the lifetime weight of lambs weaned were used to calculate both feed and ewe efficiency. Heavier ewes had greater lamb production as one-year-old ewes than L1, L2 and Control ewes, after which the yearly lamb production and efficiency did not differ between treatments. Heavier ewes had a greater lifetime number and weight of lambs weaned than L1 and L2 ewes but did not differ from Control ewes. The lower lifetime production of L1 and L2 ewes was driven by their low production as one-year-old ewes. Farmers, therefore, could select their replacements from ewes born to one-year-old ewes and have similar lamb production to ewes born to mixed-age ewes, providing they reach recommended pre-breeding live weights.
Details
- Title
- Should lambs born to one-year-old ewes and grown to heavy live weights be retained as replacements and mated at seven months of age?
- Authors/Creators
- Emmanuelle Haslin - Murdoch University, School of Agricultural SciencesPaul R. Kenyon - Massey UniversityRene A. Corner-ThomasSteve T. MorrisHugh T. Blair
- Publication Details
- New Zealand journal of agricultural research / the Royal Society of New Zealand, Vol.68(5)
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group
- Identifiers
- 991005644670207891
- Copyright
- © 2024 The Author(s).
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Agricultural Sciences; Centre for Animal Production and Health
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Citation topics
- 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology
- 3.51 Dairy & Animal Sciences
- 3.51.115 Livestock Reproduction
- Web Of Science research areas
- Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
- ESI research areas
- Agricultural Sciences