Growth of lambs receiving a supplementary milk replacer or reared traditionally in a flock of Polish Heath sheep (original) (raw)

Effect of supplementary milk feeding on growth and survival of Santa Inês lambs

Ciência Animal Brasileira, 2014

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of alternative methods of feeding on the performance and mortality rate of suckling lambs. Eighty-four Santa Inês lambs, twins and singles, half male and half female, were used. The animals were divided into three groups: A (control), B (bovine milk) and C (bovine milk plus Multi-mixture). The experiment began when lambs were three weeks old and finished at weaning at 2 months of age. Each animal from group B received 200 mL of bovine milk daily; group C received 200 mL of bovine milk plus 20g of Multi-mixture daily. Weaning Weight (WW) was 10.90, 13.20 and 13.59 kg, respectively for groups A, B and C. Daily Weight Gain (DWG) was 126, 163 and 168 g.day-1 respectively. The mortality rate was higher (p<0.05) in group A than in group B and C. Gender influenced significantly (p<0.05) the DWG and WW. DWG and WW were lower for the animals that died compared to the animals that survived: 7.94 kg against 13.51 kg (WW) and 77 ...

Growth intensity of lambs from native sheep breeds in Albania

Deleted Journal, 2023

The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of breed and sex on the body weight at different ages from birth to weaning and to compare with exotic ones. The data of live body weight at birth, 30 days, 60 days and weaning time were collected from a total of 180 lambs from two native sheep breeds namely Shkodrane and Lara e Polisit and two imported breeds Awassi and Il de France that are reared in the farm of the Center of Agricultural Technology Transfer of Korca region located in South East of Albania. All the lambs were from a single litter size. The mean body weight at birth was 3.3065 ± 0.307 kg, 7.847 ± 1.979 kg at the age of 30 days, 8.296 ± 2.015at 60 daysand 9.9161 ± 3.188 kg at weaning time of lambs of Shkodrane breed. The mean body weight of Lara e Polisit breed was 3.2500 ± 0.481 kg at birth, 8.9963 ± 2.565 kg at age 30days, 9.045 ± 2.155at 60 days and 10.1857 ± 3.078 kg at weaning time. The average birth weight of lambs from both imported breeds was 37.41% higher than that of both native breeds.The imported breeds have higher body weights at all post natal stages compared to the native breeds and the differences were highly significant (p<0.0001).Body weight at different ages until weaning was significantly affected by the breed effect (p<0.0001). The difference in the body weight of male and female lambs were significantonly at the age of 30 days (p<0.05). Average daily gains from birth to weaning time of lambs were 0.0782 kg and 0.085 kg for Shkodrane e Lara e Polisit, respectively.

​Growth Performance and Biometry of Nellore Brown Lambs from Birth to Weaning under Different Systems of Rearing

Indian Journal of Animal Research, 2022

Background: Among the three varieties of Nellore sheep, Nellore brown was most popular among the shepherds of Telangana state. The research on the performance of the other two varieties i.e. Palla and Dora was done extensively in their home tract but less data was available about performance of Nellore brown under different system of rearing. The growth rate of lambs was highest from birth to weaning in their life. The system of rearing can influence both growth rate and biometrical measurements of the lamb. The performance of the lambs during this stage influence the productive and reproductive performance in the lifetime. Methods: Sixty Nellore brown ewes (1.5-2 years) were selected from Sheep unit, Livestock Research Station, Mamnoor, Telangana for the present study. The lambs born in intensive (G1, lambs born N= 14), Semi-intensive (G2, lambs born N= 14) and Extensive (G3, lambs born N= 12) system of rearing were used to study the growth performance and biometry of lambs from birth to weaning. Result: The birth weight (kg) of lambs in G1 and G2 groups were significantly (P<0.01) higher than lambs in G3 group. The weaning body weight (Kg) was significantly higher (P<0.01) in G1 group as compared to weaning body weights in G2 and G3 group. The mean average ADG (gm) of lambs from birth to weaning was significantly (P<0.01) higher in G1 (105.4±0.19) followed by G2 (97.9±0.14) and G3 (92.8±0.07) group. The mean pin shoulder length (cm) of lambs at birth in G1 group was higher than G2 and G3 group but had a significant (P<0.05) difference with the only G3 group. In G1 group, the mean heart girth (cm) of lambs from15 th day to weaning was significantly (P<0.01) higher than G2 and G3 groups. The mean gain in paunch girth from birth to weaning in lambs of three groups was nearly 19 cm and had no significant (P<0.05) difference between groups.

PRODUCTIVE AND REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF EWES AND GROWTH RATE OF LAMBS AS AFFECTED BY NON-CONVENTIONAL ENERGY SUPPLEMENT TO RATIONS

Egyptian Journal of Sheep & Goat Sciences, 2015

The study included two experiments to compare efficiency of using basic and untraditional energy sources on productive and reproductive performance of ewes and growth rate of lambs. At first experiment, twenty-four Rahmani ewes aged 3.0-3.5 years and weighed 46.19±8.56 kg were divided into two similar groups (N=12 each). The 1 st group (L) received 4021 kcal/kg/DM while the second (L1) received 4469 kcal/kg/DM Both treatments started 28 days prior-breeding season until weaning the lambs. In this experiment, live body weight (LBW) of ewes was measured during different stages of gestation. At postnatal, eight ewes and their lambs were chosen (N=4 in each energy level) to determine their LBW, suckling milk (quantity and quality) and some udder measurements. At second experiment, fourteen male Rahmani lambs (average body weight 22.72 kg at 14 weeks of age) were divided into two groups, 7 lambs / energy level (L1 and L2), to record growth rate and their blood parameters. Results in 1 st experiment indicated that, LBW of ewes was significantly (P<0.05) higher with L2 than L1 at days 96 to 140 of pregnancy. The calculated reproductive parameters as pregnancy rate and litter size of ewes fed L2 were significantly (P<0.05) higher (100.00% and 1.92 %) than ewes fed L1 (83.33% and 1.40%), respectively. Ewes and their lambs in L2 group achieved booster (P<0.05) values in LBW, suckling milk (amount and composition) and udder measurements than that of L1group. However, in 2 nd experiment it shown that male lambs fed L2 had lower feed intake, higher daily gain, better feed conversion and economical efficiency. Serum glucose and cholesterol of male lambs in L2 were significantly (P<0.05) higher than L1 lambs while, urea level of L1 lambs was significantly higher (P<0.05) compared to L2 lambs. Other serum parameters as total protein and triglyceride were slightly higher in the blood of L2 lambs compared to L1 lambs. Generally, it could recommend to use protected fat (PF) and corn steep liquor (CSL)as energy supplement for improvement of productive and reproductive performance of ewes and their suckling offspring, growth rate of lambs and their blood metabolites.

Short- and long-term effects of conventional and artificial rearing strategies on the health and performance of growing lambs

animal

Artificial rearing of young animals represents a challenge in modern ruminant production systems. This work aims to evaluate the short- and long-term effects of the type of rearing on the animal’s health, growth, feed utilization and carcass performance. A total of 24 pregnant ewes carrying triplets were used. Within each triplet set, lambs were randomly allocated to one experimental treatment: natural rearing on the ewe (NN); ewe colostrum for 24 h followed by artificial rearing with milk replacer (NA) and 50 g of colostrum alternative supplementation followed by artificial rearing (AA). Milk replacer, ryegrass hay and creep feed were offered ad libitum, and each experimental group was kept in independent pens until weaning at 45 days of age. After weaning all lambs were placed together on the same pasture for fattening for 4 months. Blood samples were taken at 24 h after birth, at weaning and at the end of the fattening period (23 weeks). Results showed that no failure in the pass...

Concentrate supplementation during pregnancy and lactation of ewes affects the growth rate of lambs from a variety of crosses

Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia, 2014

The objective of this study was to determine how concentrate supplementation during late third gestation and lactation affects ewe and offspring performance from birth to weaning. Thirty-six ewes and their offspring (n = 32) were used. Eighteen Morada Nova and 18 Santa Inês ewes were artificially inseminated with semen from Dorper ram and distributed in a completely randomized factorial arrangement (2 × 2) consisting of two supplementation levels (5 and 15 g kg-1 of BW) and two breeds (Morada Nova and Santa Inês) or two crosses (Dorper × Morada Nova and Dorper × Santa Inês). The ewes were weighed, their body condition was evaluated during pregnancy, and the weaning weight of the lambs at up to 70 days old was measured. There was no effect of breed or supplementation on the prolificacy or type of birth. The Santa Inês ewes had a faster rate of development, although the weight loss during lactation was lower in the Morada Nova ewes. The weight development of the Dorper × Santa Inês lambs during the maternal-dependent phase was 34 g/100 g higher than that of the other cross, with no difference in the maternal-independent phase. Dorper × Santa Inês lambs gain more weight during the 70 days of development. However, the Dorper × Morada Nova lambs show a better response in terms of production efficiency when comparing the weight of the lambs with the weight of the sheep.

Pre-and Post-Weaning Growth Performance and Economic Efficiency of Rahmani and Finn Lambs and Their Crosses

Researcher, 2011

Total of 214 born lambs included 78 Rahmani (R), 67 1/4F 3/4R, 32 1/2F 1/2R, 17 3/4F 1/4R and 20 Finn (F) were suckled their dams only until three weeks of age. From three weeks of age up to weaning at four months of age, lambs suckled their mothers freely and given green berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum) or berseem hay plus 100 g/day/head of ground grain mixture. From 4 to 8 months of age lambs were fed concentrate mixture, wheat straw plus fresh berseem or green sugar beet tops (winter diet) or plus berseem hay or green sorghum or dried sugar beet tops or green reed plants (summer diet). Mortality rate was significantly higher (P<0.05) in Finn sheep compared with Rahmani and increased significantly (P<0.05) with increasing Finn blood in crossbred. Average body weight at birth, weaning and 8 month of age and average daily gain (ADG), DM intake, feed conversion, average daily feed cost, price of ADG and net revenue during pre, post-weaning and whole periods were significantly higher (P<0.05) for Rahmani than Finn lambs and decreased significantly (P<0.05) with increasing Finn blood in crossbred

Feed Efficiency, Growth Rates, Body Composition, Milk Production and Milk Composition of Targhee Sheep Selected for Increased Weaning Weight

Journal of Animal Science, 1987

Lactation and growth of three contemporary lines of grade Targhee sheep developed from the same genetic base were ch~acterized by three experiments performed over a period of 2 yr. Two lines (HW and DH) had been selected for 120-d weaning weights for 24 yr prior to beginning these experiments. A third line (C) was a randomly selected control. Year 1 experiment contrasted 10 DH with 7 C ram lambs fed to 58 kg. Year II experiments utilized 9 C, 14 DH and 10 HW ram iambs and 11 ewes suckling twins from each line. All Year ti ram Iambs were born and weaned as twins, then fed to 50 kg. Mature DH and HW ewes were heavier (P<.05) than C ewes (65.2 and 68.8 vs 54.9 kg), and the DH and HW lambs grew faster than C lambs both before (P<.05) and after weaning (P<.05). While both DH and HW lambs drank more milk (2,419 and 2,368 vs 2,059 g.d-I ,pair-1 ; P<.10) only HW ewes showed a trend towards greater potential milk production than controls (HW = 2,774 vs C = 2,155 g,d-1 "ewe-1 P<.12). The HW lambs tended to be leaner than C lambs (P<.05), but DH lambs did not differ from either line. Lambs from DH and HW lines required less post-weaning feed (121.9 and 129.3 vs 152.0 kg P<.05) and exhibited 17 and 16% greater weight per day of age at 50 kg than controls (P<.05). The DH line displayed lower feed: gain ratios than controls in both post-weaning trials (6.68 vs 7.30 to 58 kg; 5.83 vs 6.24 at 50 kg; P=.06).

The Effect of Sex and Weaning Age on Growth Performance of First Generation Lambs Derived from Crossing ½Romanov and Zel

The increase in birth rate is one of the most important objectives in sheep breeding. One way to increase the birth rate and yield is to hybrid the weak native breeds with those of strong from the view point. To this aim, the study has investigated the effects of sex and weaning age on the first-generation lambs growth result according to ½Romanov and Zel. Also it has used the completely randomized factorial experiments with 6 treatment and 4 replication. The lambs weaning age has been 40, 50 and 75 days. The experimental diets have been the same to the all treatments in terms of energy, protein and other nutrients. The feed intake given to lambs has been measured and weighed with interval specification. By evaluating the feed consumption results and daily weighing, in 2 first weeks, as well as fourth and fifth weeks, there were significant differences have been observed in sex and weaning age (p<0.05). In the fourth 2 weeks, a significant statistical difference has observed in the feed conversion ratio (p<0.05). By result investigation, it has been observed that the male lambs have had better performances than the females in the term of feed consumption, feed conversion ratio and daily weight gaining during the experiment weeks. The lambs of 75 days have had the best performance in feed consumption and daily weight gain.