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Embryo mortality in Scottish Blackface ewes as influenced by body condition at mating and by post-mating nutrition

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

R. G. Gunn ,
J. M. Doney  and
A. J. F. Russel
R. G. Gunn
Affiliation:
Hill Farming Research Organisation, 29 Lander Road, Edinburgh EH9 2JQ
J. M. Doney
Affiliation:
Hill Farming Research Organisation, 29 Lander Road, Edinburgh EH9 2JQ
A. J. F. Russel
Affiliation:
Hill Farming Research Organisation, 29 Lander Road, Edinburgh EH9 2JQ
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Summary

One hundred and forty-nine Scottish Blackface ewes (aged 5 and 6 years), from two different farm sources, were group-fed over 6 weeks in such a manner that at 3 weeks before mating there were approximately equal numbers from each source in two widely different levels of subjectively assessed body condition (scores 1·5 and 3 on a scale ranging from 0 = emaciated to 5 = very fat). The majority of ewes were maintained in these levels of condition until mating after which they were allocated alternately to high and low planes of post-mating nutrition for 26±2 days.

Half the ewes in each group were killed on day 26±2, or earlier return-to-service, for ovulation and viable embryo counts. Surviving ewes were fed at or above maintenance until parturition and the number of lambs recorded.

Condition at mating had a significant, positive effect on both ovulation and lambing rates and had an apparent negative effect on embryo mortality up to day 26±2, although this was influenced by differences in the distributions of single and multiple shed ova. Post-mating nutrition had no effect on embryo mortality up to day 26±2. Neither condition at mating nor post-mating nutrition had any effect on embryo mortality from day 26±2 to parturition.

Source of ewe had a significant effect on both ovulation rate and embryo mortality at both levels of body, condition.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 79 , Issue 1 , August 1972 , pp. 19 - 25
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1972

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