Hostname: page-component-5c6d5d7d68-wtssw Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-08-18T22:27:34.776Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

A note on the effect of tail-tying on the reproductive performance of Welsh Mountain ewes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

J. E. Newton
Affiliation:
The Grassland Research Institute, Hurley, Berkshire
J. E. Betts
Affiliation:
The Grassland Research Institute, Hurley, Berkshire
Get access

Summary

In a Welsh Mountain flock of 104 ewes, 51 had their tails tied aside for the duration of one oestrus. Tail-tying significantly increased the conception rate at this oestrus. It also significantly increased the mean litter size of ewes superovulated with 1000IU PMSG from 1·70 to 2·33. It is suggested that the most likely reason for this increase in the number of multiple births was an increased number of ejaculations per oestrus. Perinatal mortality was high in lambs from multiple births. The effect of PMSG and tail-tying was to increase the lambing percentage from 77 to 120.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1972

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Lightfoot, R. J. and Smith, J. A. C. 1968. Studies on the number of ewes joined per ram for flock matings under paddock conditions. I. Mating behaviour and fertility. Aust. J. agric. Res. 19: 10291042.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Newton, J. E. and Beits, J. E. 1968. Factors affecting litter size in the Scotch Half-bred ewe. II. Superovulation and the synchronisation of oestrus. J. Reprod. Fert. 17: 485493.Google Scholar
Newton, J. E., Betts, J. E. and Large, R. V. 1969. Increasing litter size in three breeds of sheep by superovulation. J. agric. Sci. Comb. 75: 355360.Google Scholar
Parker, C. F. and Bell, D. S. 1966. Factors associated with the ram influence on ewe fertility. Res. Summ., Ohio agric. Res. Dev. Centre, Wooster, 11: 12.Google Scholar