Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-xm8r8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-13T15:21:17.317Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The reproductive performance of ewe lambs in a controlled environment

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

L. Ainsworth  and
J. N. B. Shrestha
L. Ainsworth
Affiliation:
Animal Research Centre, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0C6
J. N. B. Shrestha
Affiliation:
Animal Research Centre, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0C6
Get access

Abstract

The effects of strain, season, type of birth, age and body weight at breeding on fertility and fecundity of ewe lambs raised in a controlled environment were evaluated. Data were derived from 2776 ewe lambs of a synthetic sire strain, two synthetic dam strains and two control strains (Suffolk and Finnish Landrace breeds) mated to 719 rams over 15 breeding periods during January, May or September over 9 years. The ewe lambs were exposed to rams at a synchronized and follow-up oestrus at 6·5 to 7·5 months of age. There were significant differences among strains. Fertility and fecundity were highest for lambs of the Finnish Landrace breed, intermediate for the two synthetic dam strains and lowest for the synthetic sire strain and the Suffolk breed. Although period of breeding and season had an effect on reproductive traits, the strain differences were not consistent. Type of birth did not affect performance of lambs at the synchronized oestrus. However, overall fertility and fecundity increased progressively as the type of birth of the lambs increased from singles to triplets and greater. Increased age and body weight at the synchronized oestrus had a significant and positive effect on fertility and fecundity.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 44 , Issue 2 , April 1987 , pp. 233 - 240
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1987

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

Ainsworth, L., Fiser, P. S., Heaney, D. P., Langford, G. A. and Shrestha, J. N. B. 1985. Intensive husbandry of fecund sheep. In Genetics of Reproduction in Sheen (ed. Land, R. B. and Robinson, D. W.), pp. 399–409. Butterworths, London.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ainsworth, L. and Shrestha, J. N. B. 1985. Effect of PMSG dosage on the reproductive performance of adult ewes and ewe lambs bred at a progestagen-PMSG synchronized estrus. Theriogenology 24: 479–487.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Alnsworth, L. and Wolynetz, M. S. 1982 Synchronization of estrus and reproductive performance of ewes treated with synthetic progestagens administered by subcutaneous ear implant or by intravaginal sponge pessary. Journal of Animal Science 54: 1120–1127.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Al-Wahab, R. M. H. and Bryant, M. J. 1978a. The effect of reduction in daylength, level of feeding and age on the reproduction of young female sheep mated at an induced ovulation. Animal Production 26: 317–324.Google Scholar
Al-Wahab, R. M. H. and Bryant, M. J. 1978b. Reproduction in young female sheep induced to breed at various ages. Animal Production 26: 309–316.Google Scholar
Bichard, M., Younis, A. A., Forrest, P. A. and Cumberland, P. H. 1974. Analysis of production records from a lowland sheep flock. 4. Factors influencing the incidence of successful pregnancy in young females. Animal Production 19: 177–191.Google Scholar
Donald, H. P., Read, J. L. and Russell, W. S. 1968. A comparative trial of crossbred ewes by Finnish Landrace and other sires. Animal Production 10: 413–421.Google Scholar
Duncan; D., B. 1955. Multiple range and muliple F tests. Biometrics 1: 1–42.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dýrmundsson, Ó. R. 1973. Puberty and early reproductive performance in sheep. 1. Ewe lambs. Animal Breeding Abstracts 41: 273–289.Google Scholar
Dýrmundsso N, Ó. R. 1981. Natural factors affecting puberty and reproductive performance in ewe lambs: a review. Livestock Production Science 8: 55–65.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dyrmundsson, Ó. R. 1983. The influence of environmental factors on the attainment of puberty in ewe lambs. In Sheep Production (ed. Haresign, W.), pp. 393–408. Butterworths, London.Google Scholar
Edey, T. N., Kilgour, R. and Bremner, K. 1978. Sexual behaviour and reproductive performance of ewe lambs at and after puberty. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 90: 83–91.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Forrest, P. A. and Bichard, M. 1974. Analysis of production records from a lowland sheep flock. 2. Flock statistics and reproductive performance. Animal Production 19: 25–32.Google Scholar
Gordon, I. 1967. Aspects of reproduction and neonatal mortality in ewe lambs and adult sheep. Journal of Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Republic of Ireland 64: 76–127.Google Scholar
Hackett, A. J. and Wolynetz, M. S. 1984. Fertility of ewe lambs maintained indoors year-round on an accelerated breeding program. Journal of Animal Science 59: 1129–1134.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harvey, W. R. 1975. Least-squares analysis of data with unequal subclass numbers. United States Department of Agriculture, ARS H-4.Google Scholar
Heaney, D. P., Ainsworth, L., Batra, T. R., Fiser, P. S., Hackett, A. J., Lanoford, G. A. and Lee, A. J. 1980. Research for an intensive total confinement sheep production system. Agriculture Canada, Animal Research Centre, Technical Bulletin No. 2.Google Scholar
Heaney, D. P., Shrestha, J. N. B. and Peters, H. F. 1983. Effects of postweaning protein regimens and urea on the performance of intensively reared lambs. Canadian Journal of Animal Science 63: 631–641.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Keane, M. G. 1974. Effect of progestagen-PMS hormone treatment on reproduction in ewe lambs. Irish Journal of Agricultural Research 13: 39–48.Google Scholar
Keane, M. G. 1976. Breeding from ewe lambs. Farm and Food Reseach 7: 10–12.Google Scholar
Kramer, C. Y. 1957. Extension of multiple range tests to group correlated adjusted means. Biometrics 13: 13–18.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Langford, G. A. 1986. Influence of body weight and number of inseminations on fertility of progestagen-treated ewe lambs raised in controlled environments. Journal of Animal Science 62: 1058–1062.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Laster, D. B., Gump, H. A. and Dickerson, G. E. 1972. Factors affecting reproduction in ewe lambs. Journal of Animal Science 35: 79–83.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
McMillan, W. H. and McDonald, M. F. 1985. Survival of fertilized ova from ewe lambs and adult ewes in the uteri of ewe lambs. Animal Reproduction Science 8: 235–240.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Quirke, J. F. 1978. Reproductive performance of Galway, Finnish Landrace and Finn-cross ewe lambs. Irish Journal of Agricultural Research 17: 25–32.Google Scholar
Quirke, J. F. 1979a. Oestrus, ovulation, fertilization and early embryo mortality in progestagen-PMSG treated Galway ewe lambs. Irish Journal of Agricultural Research 18: 1–11.Google Scholar
Quirke, J. F. 1979b. Control of reproduction in adult ewes and ewe lambs, and estimation of reproductive wastage in ewe lambs following treatment with progestagen impregnated sponges and PMSG. Livestock Production Science 6: 295–305.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Quirke, J. F. 1981. Regulation of puberty and reproduction in female lambs: a review. Livestock Production Science 8: 37–53.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Quirke, J. F., Adams, T. E. and Hanrahan, J. P. 1983. Artificial induction of puberty in ewe lambs. In Sheep Production (ed Haresign, W.), pp. 409–429. Butterworths, London.Google Scholar
Quirke, J. F. and Gosling, J. P. 1981. Reproductive performance and plasma progesterone concentrations in ewe lambs and mature ewes following treatment for synchronization of oestrus during the breeding season. Irish Journal of Agricultural Research 20: 9–20.Google Scholar
Quirke, J. F. and Hanrahan, J. P. 1977. Comparison of the survival in the uteri of adult ewes of cleaved ova from adult ewes and ewe lambs. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 51: 487–489.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Quirke, J. F. and Hanrahan, J. P. 1983. Comparison of the survival of fertilized eggs from adult ewes in the uteri of adult ewes and ewe lambs. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 68: 289–294.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Thimonier, J., Mauléon, P., Cognié, Y. and Ortavant, R. 1968. [Induction of fertile oestrus and pregnancy in ewe lambs using intravaginal sponges impregnated with fluorogestone acetate.] Annales de Zootechnie 17: 275–288.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yellon, S. M. and Foster, D. L. 1985. Alternate photoperiods time puberty in the female lamb. Endocrinology 116: 2090–2097.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed