Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dk4vv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-25T09:16:51.686Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Effects of restricted feeding of prepubertal ewe lambs on reproduction and lactation performances over two breeding seasons

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 June 2010

L. Villeneuve ,
D. Cinq-Mars  and
P. Lacasse
L. Villeneuve
Affiliation:
Centre d’Expertise en Production Ovine du Québec, La Pocatière, QC, G0R 1Z0 Canada Département des Sciences Animales, Université Laval, Ste-Foy, QC, G1K 7P4 Canada
D. Cinq-Mars
Affiliation:
Département des Sciences Animales, Université Laval, Ste-Foy, QC, G1K 7P4 Canada
P. Lacasse*
Affiliation:
Dairy and Swine Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Sherbrooke, QC, J1M 1Z3 Canada
*
†E-mail: [email protected]
Get access

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of restricted feeding before puberty on reproduction, lactation and offspring growth performance in replacement ewe lambs over two breeding seasons. At weaning, 41 Dorset ewe lambs were assigned to one of three diets: an ad libitum control diet with medium-quality forage (MQF; 13.3% crude protein (CP), 1.81 Mcal metabolizable energy per kg, 42.8% ADF; diet A-MQF); a restricted diet with the same forage as A but less feed concentrate (diet R-MQF); or a high-quality forage (HQF) diet (14.8% CP, 2.15 Mcal ME/kg, 34.7% ADF; diet F-HQF). The quantity of concentrate offered to the group R-MQF and F-HQF ewe lambs was adjusted to obtain 70% of the control ewe lambs’ growth rate. The diets were offered for 75 days following weaning to cover the allometric phase of mammary gland development. Prepubertal restriction did not affect (P > 0.10) the gestation rate, number of lambs born or the body weight and body condition score of ewes at lambing or at the end of lactation. Ewes from groups R-MQF and F-HQF tended to produce more milk during their first lactation compared to those from group A-MQF (P = 0.07). During the second lactation, groups R-MQF and F-HQF had better standardized milk production than group A-MQF (P < 0.05), and group R-MQF produced more milk than group F-HQF (P < 0.05). Milk fat and protein content were not affected by treatments (P > 0.10) Fat and protein yield were affected by treatments only at the second lactation (P < 0.10 and P < 0.05, respectively). Lamb birth and weaning weights were not affected by prepubertal restriction of feeding in their mother (P > 0.10). However, the average daily gain of second breeding season lambs was higher for the R-MQF group than the F-HQF group (P < 0.05), and a similar trend was observed for total gain (P < 0.10). Restricted feeding before puberty does not impair future reproductive performance; however, it has a positive impact on lactation and on lambs’ growth performance.

Keywords

mammary glandplane of nutritionmilk productionreproduction
Type
Full Paper
Information
animal , Volume 4 , Issue 12 , December 2010 , pp. 1997 - 2003
Copyright
Copyright © The Animal Consortium 2010

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

Anderson, RR 1975. Mammary gland growth in sheep. Journal of Animal Science 41, 118–123.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Araujo, RC, Pires, AV, Susin, I, Mendes, CQ, Rodrigues, GH, Packer, IU, Eastridge, ML 2008. Milk yield, milk composition, eating behavior, and lamb performance of ewes fed diets containing soybean hulls replacing coastcross (Cynodon species) hay. Journal of Animal Science 86, 3511–3521.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bocquier, F, Barillet, F, Guillouet, P, Jacquin, M 1993. Prévision de l’énergie du lait de brebis à partir de différents résultats d’analyses: proposition de lait standard pour les brebis laitières. Annales de Zootechnie 42, 57–66.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Canadian Council on Animal Care 1993. Guide to the care and use of experimental animals, vol. 1, 2nd edition. CCAC, Ottawa, ON, Canada.Google Scholar
Capuco, AV, Smith, JJ, Waldo, DR, Rexroad, CE Jr 1995. Influence of prepubertal dietary regimen on mammary growth of Holstein heifers. Journal of Dairy Science 78, 2709–2725.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Charles, SL, Vonnahme, KA, Yelich, JV, Dolezal, HG, Wettemann, RP 1999. Effect of growth rate on mammary gland development at puberty in beef heifers. Journal of Animal Science 77 (suppl. 1), 17 (Abstract).Google Scholar
Dýrmundsson, OR 1981. Natural factors affecting puberty and reproduction performance in ewe lambs: a review. Livestock Production Science 8, 55–65.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Foldager, J, Sejrsen, K 1991. Rearing intensity in dairy heifers and the effect on subsequent milk production. Report no. 693. National Institute of Animal Science, Foulum, Denmark.Google Scholar
Hohenboken, WD, Foldager, J, Jensen, J, Madsen, P, Andersen, BB 1995. Breed and nutritional effects and interactions on energy intake, production and efficiency of nutrient utilization in young bulls, heifers, and lactating cows. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section A – Animal Science 45, 92–98.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Johnsson, ID, Obst, JM 1984. The effects of level of nutrition before and after 8 months of age on subsequent milk and calf production of beef heifers over three lactations. Animal Production 38, 57–68.Google Scholar
Johnsson, ID, Hart, IC 1985. Pre-pubertal mammogenesis in the sheep. 1. The effects of level of nutrition on growth and mammary development in female lambs. Animal Production 41, 323–332.Google Scholar
Johnsson, ID, Hart, IC, Turvey, A 1986. Pre-pubertal mammogenesis in the sheep. 3. The effects of restricted feeding or daily administration of bovine growth hormone and bromocriptine on mammary growth and morphology. Animal Production 42, 53–63.Google Scholar
Lacasse, P, Block, E, Guilbault, LA, Petitclerc, D 1993. Effect of plane of nutrition before and during gestation on milk production, reproduction and health of dairy heifers. Journal of Dairy Science 76, 3420–3427.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lammers, BP, Heinrichs, AJ, Kensinger, RS 1999. The effect of accelerated growth rates and estrogen implants in prepubertal Holstein heifers on estimates of mammary development and subsequent reproduction and milk production. Journal of Dairy Science 82, 1753–1764.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lassoued, N, Rekik, M, Mahouachi, M, Ben Hamouda, M 2004. The effect of nutrition prior to and during mating on ovulation rate, reproductive wastage, and lambing rate in three sheep breeds. Small Ruminant Research 52, 117–125.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Le Cozler, Y, Lollivier, V, Lacasse, P, Disenhaus, C 2008. Rearing strategy and optimizing first-calving targets in dairy heifers: a review. Animal 2, 1393–1404.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mani, AU, McKelvey, WAC, Watson, ED 1992. The effects of low level of feeding on response to synchronization of estrus, ovulation rate and embryo loss in goats. Theriogenology 38, 1013–1022.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mäntysaari, P, Ingvartsen, KL, Toivonen, V, Sejrsen, K 1995. The effects of feeding level and nitrogen source of the diet on mammary development and plasma hormone concentrations of pre-pubertal heifers. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section A – Animal Science 45, 236–244.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McCann, MA, Goode, L, Harvey, RW, Caruolo, EV, Mann, DL 1989. Effects of rapid weight gain to puberty on reproduction, mammary development and lactation in ewe lambs. Theriogenology 32, 55–68.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
McFadden, TB, Daniel, TE, Akers, RM 1990. Effects of plane of nutrition, growth hormone and unsaturated fat on mammary growth in prepubertal lambs. Journal of Animal Science 68, 3171–3179.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Meyer, MJ, Capuco, AV, Ross, DA, Lintault, LM, Van Amburgh, ME 2006. Development and nutritional regulation of prepubertal heifer mammary gland: I. Parenchyma and fat pad mass and composition. Journal of Dairy Science 89, 4289–4297.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Miyamoto-Tiaven, MJ, Hillyard, LA, Abraham, S 1981. Influence of dietary fat on the growth of mammary ducts in BALB/c mice. Journal of the National Cancer Institute 67, 179–188.Google ScholarPubMed
National Research Council (NRC) 2007. Nutrient requirements of small ruminants: sheep, goats, cervids, and new world camelids. The National Academies Press, Washington, DC, USA.Google Scholar
Peclaris, GM, Nikolaou, E, Kann, G, Eleftheriou, P, Yupsanis, T, Mantzios, A 1994. Effects of plane of nutrition and photoperiod on mammary development in prepubertal lambs. World Review of Animal Production 29, 73–80.Google Scholar
Peclaris, GM, Nikolaou, E, Kann, G, Eleftheriou, P, Yupsanis, T, Mantzios, A, Koutsotolis, K 1997. Effects of melatonin and plane of nutrition on mammary development in prepubertal boutsiko mountain breed ewe lambs. Theriogenology 48, 143–150.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Peri, I, Gertler, A, Bruckental, I, Barash, H 1993. The effect of manipulation in energy allowance during the rearing period of heifers on hormone concentrations and milk production in first lactation cows. Journal of Dairy Science 76, 742–751.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pirlo, G, Capelletti, M, Marchetto, G 1997. Effects of energy and protein allowances in the diets of prepubertal heifers on growth and milk production. Journal of Dairy Science 80, 730–739.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Quirke, JF, Stabenfeldt, GH, Bradford, GE 1985. Onset of puberty and duration of the breeding season in Suffolk, Rambouillet, Finnish Landrace, Dorset and Finn-Dorset ewe lambs. Journal of Animal Science 60, 1463–1471.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Radcliff, RP, Vandehaar, MJ, Chapin, LT, Pilbeam, TE, Beede, DK, Stanisiewski, EP, Tucker, HA 2000. Effects of diet and injection of bovine somatotropin on prepubertal growth and first lactation milk yields of Holstein heifers. Journal of Dairy Science 83, 23–29.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Statistical Analysis Systems Institute (SAS) 2002. Statistical analysis system, release 9.1.3. SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA.Google Scholar
Sejrsen, K 1978. Mammary development and milk yield in relation to growth rate in dairy and dual-purpose heifers. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica 28, 41–46.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sejrsen, K, Foldager, J 1992. Mammary growth and milk production capacity of replacement heifers in relation to diet energy concentration and plasma hormone levels. Acta Agriculture Scandinavia, Section A – Animal Science 42, 99–105.Google Scholar
Sejrsen, K, Huber, JT, Tucker, HA, Akers, RM 1982. Influence of nutrition on mammary development in pre- and post-pubertal heifers. Journal of Dairy Science 65, 793–800.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sormunen-Cristian, R, Jauhiainen, L 2000. Feeding levels during the growing phase affect the production of primiparous Finnish Landrace ewes. Agricultural and Food Science in Finland 9, 187–200.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Susin, I, Loerch, SC, McClure, KE, Day, ML 1995. Effects of limit feeding a high-grain diet on puberty and reproductive performance of ewes. Journal of Animal Science 73, 3206–3215.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Thibault, C, Petitclerc, D, Spratt, R, Leonard, M, Sejrsen, K, Lacasse, P 2003. Effects of feeding prepubertal heifers with a high oil diet on mammary gland development and milk production. Journal of Dairy Science 86, 2320–2326.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Umberger, SH, Goode, L, Caruolo, EV, Harvey, RW, Britt, JH, Linnerud, AC 1985. Effects of accelerated growth during rearing on reproduction and lactation in ewes lambing at 13 to 15 months of age. Theriogenology 23, 555–564.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Van Amburgh, ME, Galton, DM, Bauman, DE, Everett, RW, Fox, DG, Chase, LE, Erb, HB 1998. Effects of three prepubertal body growth rates on performance of Holstein heifers during first lactation. Journal of Dairy Science 81, 527–538.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Valentine, SC, Dobos, RC, Lewis, PA, Bartsch, BD, Wickes, RB 1987. Effect of liveweight gain before or during pregnancy on mammary gland development and subsequent milk production of Australian Holstein-Friesian heifers. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 27, 195–204.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Villeneuve, L, Méthot, H, Cinq-Mars, D, Bergeron, R 2009. Effect of individual or paired housing during post-weaning on feed intake, growth rate and behaviour of lambs. Small Ruminant Research 85, 99–104.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Villeneuve, L, Cinq-Mars, D, Lacasse, P 2010. Effects of restricted feeding of prepubertal ewe lambs on growth performances and mammary gland development. Animal 4, 944–950.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Zidi, A, Ayadi, M, Caja, G, Such, X, Ghirardi, JJ, Albanell, E 2005. Efectos de la alimentación antes de la pubertad sobre la vida productiva de ovejas lecheras de raza Manchega y Lacaune. ITEA: Producción Animal 26, 249–251.Google Scholar
Zidi, A, Caja, G, Ayadi, M, Castillo, V, Flores, C, Such, X 2007. Comparación de los efectos de la alimentación pre-puberal en el desarollo mamario y la producción de leche a la primera lactación en ovino de raza Manchega y Lacaune. ITEA: Producción Animal 28, 285–287.Google Scholar