| dc.description.abstract |
The aim of the present experiment was to ascertain if mid-pregnancy shearing of autumn-lambing ewes would increase the birthweight of the lambs. Following pregnancy diagnosis, 123 pregnant ewes were randomly allocated to one of two treatment groups. One group was shorn on day 74 of pregnancy (P74) and both treatment groups were managed as one mob. Ewe liveweights were recorded on day 53 of pregnancy (P53), day 141 of pregnancy (P141), and 45 (L45) and 75 days (L75) after the start of the lambing period. Lamb liveweights were recorded within the first 24�h of birth, L45 and L75. In addition, girth circumference, crown?rump length, fore leg length and rear leg length were measured within the first 24�h of birth. Ewe liveweight, inclusive of the removed fleece, did not differ between treatment groups at P53, P141, L45 or L75. Lambs born to shorn ewes were heavier at birth compared with lambs born to unshorn ewes (P�<�0.05; 4.56 v. 4.24, respectively), but not at L45 or L75. Girth circumference (P�<�0.01), crown?rump length (P�<�0.05) and fore leg length (P�<�0.01) were also longer in lambs born to shorn ewes. It was concluded that ewes shearing ewes in the summer?autumn period can be used as a means of increasing lamb birthweight. |
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