Vinsamlegast notið þetta auðkenni þegar þið vitnið til verksins eða tengið í það: http://hdl.handle.net/1946/13251
Feeding of the pregnant ewe affects its weight and condition and subsequently the ability to
supply the lambs with adequate nutrition. Supplementing is commonly used to secure
adequate birth weight and growth rate but for efficient use the condition of the ewes as well as
total composition of the diet has to be considered thoroughly. In the experiment described here
the effect of feeding different concentrates during the last month prepartum on ewe and lambs
health and performance were tested on 48 ewes and their progenies. Ewes were assigned to
four treatments, each containing equal numbers of single- twin- and triplet bearing ewes. All
lambs were reared as twins. Three of the treatment groups (MIX, EN and PRO) were fed,
along with ad libitum haylage, increasing levels of supplements differing in protein type and
content while the fourth group was control group (CTR) and only fed haylage. Ewes were
weighed and scored for BCS before and after the experimental period, haylage intake recorded
daily and blood samples collected weekly for metabolite analysis. Lambs were weighed at
birth, seven days old, approximately seven weeks old and at last at weaning. Supplemented
ewes ate significantly less haylage than CTR ewes. Though treatment did not affect weight,
BCS nor weight and BCS changes, CTR ewes gained significantly less weight than the PRO
ewes and the MIX group ewes had significantly higher BCS in April than other. Single
bearing ewes gained less weight and were lighter at parturition than other while triplet bearing
ewes had the lowest BCS and lost condition in all supplemented treatments. Treatment
affected glucose, BHB, urea, uric acid, AST, ICDH and calcium level significantly, BHB and
urea level increased with higher levels of undegradable protein. Glucose, urea, uric acid and
ICDH levels were affected by litter size, single bearing ewes having the lowest levels of ICDH
and uric acid but the highest levels of glucose and urea. No significant difference was found
for birth weight between treatments. The first weeks postpartum lambs reared by CTR ewes
had significantly lower growth rate than others but this difference ceased with increasing age.
Type of supplements did not affect growth rate significantly and live weight at weaning did
not differ significantly between treatments. Lambs reared by ewes that had given birth to twins
had significantly higher growth rate the first week postpartum but the difference then ceased
and was not found after seven weeks of age.
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