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Effects of pre-mating undernutrition on oestrus, ovulation and prenatal mortality in Merino ewes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

A. J. Mackenzie  and
T. N. Edey
A. J. Mackenzie
Affiliation:
Department of Livestock Production, University of New England, Armidale 2351, Australia
T. N. Edey
Affiliation:
Department of Livestock Production, University of New England, Armidale 2351, Australia
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Summary

Oestrus, ovulation rate and prenatal mortality were studied in 114 mature Merino ewes of high and low body weight at mating. Three nutritional treatments were imposed over 8 weeks prior to hand mating to fertile rams; high plane (HH), low plane (LL) and 7 weeks of high plane followed by 1 week of fasting immediately prior to mating (HL). Ovarian activity, ovulation rate and the extent and timing of prenatal loss were assessed by the appropriate use of direct ovarian observations, pregnancy diagnosis, returns to service and lambing records.

While both prolonged undernutrition (LL) and acute nutritional restriction (HL) were associated with some suppression of behavioural oestrus, neither had any appreciable effect on ovulation rate or prenatal mortality. In all groups the right ovary was more active in producing ova than the left, and the HH group had more ovarian follicles (≥ 4 mm diameter) than the other two groups. Large unruptured ovarian follicles (6—15 mm diameter) were observed in nine ewes. Significantly more ova shed in multiple ovulations were lost, and multiple-ovulating ewes were more likely to suffer complete rather than partial loss of both embryos. Impaired fertility was evident when ewes that returned to service at an extended cycle length were re-mated.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 84 , Issue 1 , February 1975 , pp. 119 - 124
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1975

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