Effects of pregnant sheep feeding on wool yield and live weight of lambs

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to increase wool yield, live weight and gain of lambs by better feeding of pregnant sheep. Sheep in the treatment A were at a lower feeding level than those in the treatment B. After 100 days of pregnancy in winter, 10 sheep in the treatment A had signs of wool loss. Until lambing, 16 sheep or 40% in the treatment A had partial wool loss. On the other hand, wool loss in the treatment B was noticed in three sheep or 7.5% of the group. About 2/3 of sheep with wool loss were sheep with twins. Mean wool yield was 2.56 kg and 3.10 kg in the treatment A, i.e. the treatment B, respectively. Better feeding of ewes resulted in wool yield higher by 0.54 kg or 21.1%. A low level feeding affected foetus gain less than wool gain. The mean birth live weight of lambs was 2.72 kg, i.e. 3.31 kg in treatments A and B, respectively. The live weight of lambs at 30 days of age was 8.87 kg and 10.37 kg in treatments A and B, respectively. During the first month lambs gained 205 kg and 235 kg day-1 in the treatments A and B, respectively (P lt 0.05).

Cilj ispitivanja je bio da se poboljšanom ishranom visokogravidnih ovaca poveća prinos vune, telesna masa i prirast jagnjadi. Ovce na tretmanu A bile su na nižem nivou ishrane, a na tretmanu B na poboljšanoj ishrani, odnosno višem nivou. Nakon 100 dana graviditeta, u zimskom periodu na tretmanu A, 10 ovaca je imalo znake opadanja vune. Do jagnjenja 16 ovaca ili 40% na tretmanu A bilo je sa delimično opalom vunom. Na tretmanu B zapaženo je opadanje vune samo na 3 ovce ili 7,5% od broja ovaca. Oko 2/3 ovaca sa opalom vunom činile su ovce sa blizancima. Prosečan prinos runa na tretmanu A iznosio je 2,56 kg, a na tretmanu B 3,10 kg. Boljom ishranom ovaca ostvaren je veći prinos vune za 0,54 kg ili 21,1% (P lt 0,01). Na lošijoj ishrani porast fetusa je bio manje osetljiv nego porast vune. Prosečna TM jagnjadi pri rođenju bila je na tretmanu A 2,72 kg, a na tretmanu B 3,31 kg. Sa 30 dana TM jagnjadi na tretmanu A iznosila je 8,87 kg, a na tretmanu B 10,37 kg. U toku prvog meseca jagnjad na tretmanu A ostvarila su prirast od 205 g/dan, a na tretmanu B 235 g/dan. Razlika iznosi 30 g ili 14,6% (P lt 0,05) u korist jagnjadi bolje hranjenih ovaca.