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The use of measurements of energy status in pregnant ewes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

A.J.F. Russel
A.J.F. Russel
Affiliation:
Hill Farming Research Organisation, Bush EstatePenicuik, Midlothian, EH26 OPY.
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Extract

The need to assess the adequacy of nutrition arises frequently. It occurs in relation to individual animals and to groups of animals in both experimental situations and in commercial practice.

The measurement of food intake poses certain difficulties and involves a considerable amount of time and effort, particularly with grazing animals, but also with housed animals which are group–fed. Even where food intakes can be measured, the assessment of the adequacy of that nutrition necessitates a knowledge of the animal's requirements – and this too can present problems in some situations. Changes in live weight and in body condition are obvious and useful indices of the adequacy of nutrition, but in many cases the time taken for such changes to become manifest is too great. By the time an excessive rate of live–weight loss has been detected it may be either too late to effect a change in the level of feeding, or an unacceptable production penalty may have already been incurred.

Type
Research Article
Information
BSAP Occasional Publication , Volume 1: The Use of Blood Metabolites in Animal Production , January 1978 , pp. 31 - 39
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Production 1978

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References

REFERENCES

Cloete, J.H.L. 1939. Prenatal growth in the Merino sheep. Onderstepoort J. vet. Sci. Anim. Ind. 13: 418–558.Google Scholar
Donald, H.P. and Russell, W.S. 1970. The relationship between live weight of ewe at mating and weight of newborn lamb. Anim. Prod. 12: 273–280.Google Scholar
Russel, A.J.F., Doney, J.M. and Reid, R.L. 1967a. The use of biochemical parameters in controlling nutritional state in pregnant ewes, and the effect of undernourishment during pregnancy on lamb birth-weight. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 68: 351–358.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Russel, A.J.F., Doney, J.M. and Reid, R.L. 1967b. Energy requirements of the pregnant ewe. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 68: 359–363.CrossRefGoogle Scholar