Hostname: page-component-7479d7b7d-qlrfm Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-11T21:28:52.934Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The influence of lamb genotype on the milk production of Blackface ewes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

J. N. Peart ,
J. M. Doney  and
A. J. MacDonald
J. N. Peart
Affiliation:
The Hill Farming Research Organization, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian EH26 OPH
J. M. Doney
Affiliation:
The Hill Farming Research Organization, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian EH26 OPH
A. J. MacDonald
Affiliation:
The Hill Farming Research Organization, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian EH26 OPH
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

The milk intakes of single-born Texel x Blackface and of pure-bred Blackface lambs suckling Blackface ewes was measured using a lamb-suckling technique. The shapes of the lactation curves were similar but the mean milk intake of the Texel x Blackface lambs was substantially greater than that of the pure-bred lambs at all points on the lactation curve. The Texel x Blackface lambs attained a mean maximum daily milk intake of 2418 g and the pure-breds 2075 g; mean total milk intakes during an 84-day period were 157 and 128 kg, respectively. Mean birth weights were 5·08 and 4·98 kg and the subsequent mean daily live-weight gains were 364 and 344 g, respectively, for the Texel x Blackface and pure-bred lambs. It is concluded that lamb genotype had a substantial and significant influence on the milk production of the ewes.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 84 , Issue 2 , April 1975 , pp. 313 - 316
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1975

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

Alexander, G. & Davies, H. L. (1959). Relationship of milk production to number of lambs born or suckled. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 10, 720–4.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Barnicoat, C. R., Logan, A. G. & Grant, A. I. (1949). Milk secretion studies with New Zealand Romney ewes. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 39, 44–5, 237–48.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Folman, Y., Volcani, R. & Eyal, E. (1966). Mother-offspring relationships in Awassi sheep. I. The effect of different suckling regimes and time of weaning on the lactation curve and milk yield in dairy flocks. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 67, 359–68.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hodge, R. W. (1966). The relative pasture intake of grazing lambs at two levels of milk intake. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture and Animal Husbandry 6, 314–16.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Langlands, J. P. (1972). Growth and herbage consumption of grazing Merino and Border Leicester lambs reared by their mothers or fostered by ewes of the other breed. Animal Production 14, 317–22.Google Scholar
Lawlor, M. J., Louca, A. & Mavrogenis, A. (1974). The effect of three suckling regimes on the lactation performance of Cyprus fat-tailed Chios and Awassi sheep and the growth rate of lambs. Animal Production 18, 293–9.Google Scholar
Moore, R. W. (1966). Genetic factors affecting the milk intake of lambs. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 17, 191–9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Munro, J. (1955). Studies on the milk yield of Scottish Blackface ewes. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 46, 131–6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Peart, J. N. (1967). The effect of different levels of nutrition during late pregnancy on the subsequent milk production of Blackface ewes and on the growth of their lambs. Journal of Agriculture Science, Cambridge 68, 365–71.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Peart, J. N. (1968). Lactation studies with Blackface ewes and their lambs. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 70, 87–94.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Peart, J. N., Edwards, R. A. & Donaldson, E. (1972). The yield and composition of the milk of Finnish Landrace x Blackface ewes. I. Ewes and lambs maintained indoors. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 79, 303–13.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Spedding, C. W. R., Brown, T. H. & Large, R. V. (1963). The effect on milk intake on nematode infestation of the lamb. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 22, 32–41.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wallace, L. R. (1948). The growth of lambs before and after birth in relation to the level of nutrition. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 38, 93–153.CrossRefGoogle Scholar