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The effect of level of pre-mating nutrition on ovulation rate in Scottish Blackface ewes in different body conditions at mating

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

R. G. Gunn ,
J. M. Doney  and
W. F. Smith
R. G. Gunn
Affiliation:
Hill Farming Research Organisation, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian EH26 0PY
J. M. Doney
Affiliation:
Hill Farming Research Organisation, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian EH26 0PY
W. F. Smith
Affiliation:
Hill Farming Research Organisation, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian EH26 0PY
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Abstract

In two experiments over 2 years, 181 Scottish Blackface ewes were differentially group-fed indoors to achieve moderately-good (score 2·5), moderate (score 2) or poor (score 1·5) body condition. Over 5 weeks prior to mating, ewes in moderately-good condition were either maintained or brought down to moderate condition by restricted feeding and ewes in moderate and poor condition were raised, respectively, to moderately-good and moderate condition by a high level of feeding. After mating, ewes were maintained in condition until slaughtered for a count of corpora lutea relating to first service. Ovulation rate was positively and significantly related to the level of pre-mating food intake at the moderate level of condition but not significantly so at the moderately-good level. It is postulated that ewes of this breed are more sensitive to the level of pre-mating food intake when in moderate condition at mating than they are when condition has risen to a moderately-good level.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 39 , Issue 2 , October 1984 , pp. 235 - 239
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1984

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References

REFERENCES

Gunn, R. G. and Doney, J. M. 1975. The interaction of nutrition and body condition at mating on ovulation rate and early embryo mortality in Scottish Blackface ewes. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 85: 465–470.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
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