Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-tn8tq Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-23T19:41:36.907Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Levels of first winter feeding in relation to performance of Cheviot hill ewes: VI. Life-time production form the hill

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

R. G. Gunn
R. G. Gunn
Affiliation:
Hill Farming Research Organization, 29 Lauder Road, Edinburgh, 9
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

The effects of different levels of first-winter nutrition over 3 years were studied on the subsequent life-time production from the hill of groups of North and South Country Cheviot ewe hoggs (sheep between 6 months and 1½12 years).

Lamb production was examined in terms of the percentage of lambs born and reared per ewe alive at each lambing and was expressed as a mean of five lamb crops. An overall measure of flock life-time production was calculated from the data on lamb production. This was the total number of lambs weaned at a mean 15 weeks in each treatment group over five lamb crops expressed as the mean per experimental animal alive at 6 months.

All productive components were analysed for differences between breeds, treatments, and weight-classes, i.e. those animals above or below average weight at 6 months.

There were no significant treatment differences in life-time production, although the treatment groups showed different trends with increasing age. Higher production in early life following higher levels of first-winter nutrition was associated with less efficient later production and poorer ewe survival in a hard hill environment.

It is concluded that improvement in first-winter nutrition above that available on the hill is undesirable and uneconomic without equal improvement in adult nutrition.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 71 , Issue 2 , October 1968 , pp. 161 - 166
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1968

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

Bradford, G. E., Weir, W. C. & Toreli, D. T. (1961). The effect of environment from weaning to first breeding on lifetime production of ewes. J. Anim. Sci. 29, 281–7.Google Scholar
Breirem, K., Ekern, A. & Homb, T. (1960). Relation of nutrition of tho young animal to subsequent fertility and lactation. Fed. Proc. Suppl. 7, 20, 275–83.Google Scholar
Brownlie, W. M. (1954). The wintering of Blackface mountain ewe lambs. Br. vet. J. 110, 447—59.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Coop, I. E. & Clark, V. R. (1955). The influence of method of rearing as hoggets on the lifetime productivity of sheep. N. Z. Jl Sci. Technol. (A) 37, 214–28.Google Scholar
Davies, G. M. (1954–1955). Wintering ewe lambs. Some Welsh trials. Scott. Agric. 34, 149–53.Google Scholar
Doney, J. M. & Smith, W. F. (1964). Modification of fleece development in Blackface sheep by variation in pre- and post-natal nutrition. Anim. Prod. 6, 155–67.Google Scholar
Esplin, A. C, Madsen, M. A. & Phillips, R. W. (1940). Effects of feeding ewe lambs during their first winter. Bull. Utah agric. Exp. Stn, no. 292.Google Scholar
Gunn, R. G. (1964 a). Levels of first winter feeding in relation to performance of Cheviot hill ewes. I. Body growth and development during treatment period. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 62, 99–122.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gunn, R. G. (1964 b). Levels of first winter feeding in relation to performance of Cheviot hill ewes. II. Body growth and development during the summer after treatment, 12–18 months. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 62, 123–49.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gunn, R. G. (1965). Levels of first winter feeding in relation to performance of Cheviot hill ewes. III. Tissue and joint development to 12 and 18 months of age. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 64, 311–21.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gunn, R. G. (1967 a). Levels of first winter feeding in relation to performance of Cheviot hill ewes. IV. Body growth and development from 18 months to maturity. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 69, 341–4.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gunn, R. G. (1967 b). Levels of first winter feeding in relation to performance of Cheviot hill ewes. V. Dental development and persistence. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 69, 345–8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Purser, A. F. & Roberts, R. C. (1964). The effect of treatment during first winter on the subsequent performance of Scottish Blackface ewes. Anim. Prod. 6, 273–84.Google Scholar
Smith, R. G. C. (1953–1954). Wintering Blackface ewe hoggs. Scott. Agric. 33, 140–4.Google Scholar