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The Effect of Herbage Availability, Pregnancy Stage and Rank on the Rate of Liveweight Loss during Fasting in Ewes

Author

Listed:
  • Jimmy Semakula

    (School of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North 4410, New Zealand
    National Agricultural Research Organization, Entebbe P.O. Box 295, Uganda)

  • Rene Anne Corner-Thomas

    (School of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North 4410, New Zealand)

  • Stephen Todd Morris

    (School of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North 4410, New Zealand)

  • Hugh Thomas Blair

    (School of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North 4410, New Zealand)

  • Paul Richard Kenyon

    (School of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North 4410, New Zealand)

Abstract

Sheep liveweight and liveweight change are vital tools both for commercial and research farm management. However, they can be unreliable when collection procedures are not standardized or when there are varying time delays between sheep removal from grazing and weighing. This study had two stages with different objectives: (1) A liveweight loss study to determine the effect of herbage availability (Low and High) on the rate of liveweight loss of ewes at different pregnancy stages (approximately 100 days of pregnancy: P100 and 130 days: P130) and ranks (single and twin); (2) A follow-up liveweight loss study to develop and validate correction equations for delayed liveweights by applying them to data sets collected under commercial conditions. Results from each stage showed that the rate of liveweight loss varied by herbage availability and stage of pregnancy ( p < 0.05) but not pregnancy-rank ( p > 0.05). Further, the rate of liveweight loss differed by farm ( p < 0.05). Applying liveweight correction equations increased the accuracy of without delay liveweight estimates in P100 ewes by 56% and 45% for single-bearing and twin-bearing ewes, respectively, when offered the Low-level diet. In ewes offered the High-level diet, accuracies of without delay liveweight estimates were increased by 53% and 67% for single-bearing and twin-bearing ewes, respectively. Among P130 ewes, accuracy was increased by 43% and 37% for single-bearing and twin-bearing ewes, respectively, when offered the Low herbage level and by 60% and 50% for single-bearing and twin-bearing ewes, respectively, when offered the High herbage level. In conclusion, a short-term delay of up to 8 hours prior to weighing, which is commonly associated with practical handling operations, significantly reduced the liveweight recorded for individual sheep. Using delayed liveweights on commercial farms and in research can have consequences for management practices and research results; thus, liveweight data should be collected without delay. However, when this is not feasible, delayed ewe liveweights should be corrected and, in the absence of locally devised correction equations, the ones generated in the current study could be applied on farms with similar management conditions and herbage type.

Suggested Citation

  • Jimmy Semakula & Rene Anne Corner-Thomas & Stephen Todd Morris & Hugh Thomas Blair & Paul Richard Kenyon, 2021. "The Effect of Herbage Availability, Pregnancy Stage and Rank on the Rate of Liveweight Loss during Fasting in Ewes," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-18, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:11:y:2021:i:6:p:543-:d:574062
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Rémi Toupet & Alastair T. Gibbons & Sara L. Goodacre & Matt J. Bell, 2020. "Effect of Herbage Density, Height and Age on Nutrient and Invertebrate Generalist Predator Abundance in Permanent and Temporary Pastures," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(5), pages 1-13, May.
    2. Breusch, T S & Pagan, A R, 1979. "A Simple Test for Heteroscedasticity and Random Coefficient Variation," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 47(5), pages 1287-1294, September.
    3. Jimmy Semakula & Rene A. Corner-Thomas & Stephen T. Morris & Hugh T. Blair & Paul R. Kenyon, 2021. "The Effect of Herbage Availability and Season of Year on the Rate of Liveweight Loss during Weighing of Fasting Ewe Lambs," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-20, February.
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    1. Ionică Nechifor & Marian Alexandru Florea & Răzvan-Mihail Radu-Rusu & Constantin Pascal, 2022. "Influence of Supplemental Feeding on Body Condition Score and Reproductive Performance Dynamics in Botosani Karakul Sheep," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-16, November.

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