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Concentrates versus Fecundin for flushing upland ewes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 November 2017

W.S. Dingwall ,
J. FitzSimons  and
P. Phillips
W.S. Dingwall
Affiliation:
The Edinburgh School of AgricultureWest Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG
J. FitzSimons
Affiliation:
The Edinburgh School of AgricultureWest Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG
P. Phillips
Affiliation:
AFRC Unit of StatisticsUniversity of EdinburghMayfield Road, Edinburgh
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Extract

The main factor limiting fecundity in sheep is the low ovulation rate (Hanarahan, 1980). The relationships between body condition, level of nutrition and ovulation rate, and the ability to increase fecundity by flushing ewes prior to mating, are all well established (Gunn, 1983). In upland ewe flocks, flushing is generally attempted by the use of saved autumn pastures. However, the seasonal variation in grass growth often results in the degree of flushing desired not always being possible and leaving the flockmaster seeking a viable option.

The present investigation examined two possible alternative strategies for increasing the fecundity of upland ewes. Improving body condition prior to mating by supplementary feeding was compared with the recently developed technique of increasing ovulation rate by active immunisation against androstenedione (Scaramuzzi, Cox and Hoskinson, 1982).

Type
Sheep Production
Information
Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Production (1972) , Volume 1986 , March 1986 , pp. 34
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Production 1986

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References

Gunn, R.G. (1983). In Sheep Production, pp 99–110. Ed. by Haresign, W., Butterworths, London.Google Scholar
Hanrahan, J.P. (1980). Animal Production in Australia: Proceedings of the Australian Society of Animal Production, 13, 405–408.Google Scholar
Scaramuzzi, R.J., Cox, R.I. and Hoskinson, R.M. (1982). In Proceedings of 2nd World Congress of Sheep and Beef Cattle Breeding, Vol. 1, pp. 359–364. Ed. by R.A., Barton and Smith, W.C. Google Scholar