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The effect of body condition and time of mating on the reproductive performance of Masham ewes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

J. E. Newton ,
J. E. Betts  and
Renée Wilde
J. E. Newton
Affiliation:
Grassland Research Institute, Hurley, Maidenhead, Berkshire SL6 5LR
J. E. Betts
Affiliation:
Grassland Research Institute, Hurley, Maidenhead, Berkshire SL6 5LR
Renée Wilde
Affiliation:
Grassland Research Institute, Hurley, Maidenhead, Berkshire SL6 5LR
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Abstract

Masham ewes were mated at three stages of the breeding season, early (15 September to 20 October), mid (20 October to 24 November) and late (15 December to 19 January), at two different body condition scores, 4 and 2, for 3 successive years. The mean scores achieved for body condition 4 were 3·6, 3·7 and 3·9 for early, mid and late respectively and for body condition 2 were 2·4, 2·3 and 2·2. In the late lambing flock more ewes were marked by vasectomized rams and less ewes were barren than in the early and mid flocks. The ewes in higher body condition at mating had significantly more triplets and fewer singles, and a higher lambing percentage (183 versus 165). This effect of body condition on litter size distribution was significant at each time of mating, with the ewes at the late mating producing significantly fewer triplets and more singles; this difference was caused by a reduction in the performance of the body condition 4 ewes in the late group.

Young ewes in the body condition 4 group produced significantly fewer triplets and more singles than the mature ewes in the same body condition group, but at the lower body condition age had no effect on litter size distribution.

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 30 , Issue 2 , April 1980 , pp. 253 - 260
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1980

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References

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