A note on the effect of lamb growth potential, litter size, and concentrate supplements on performance of lambs and lactating ewes consuming low to moderate quality grass hay

A Goetsh

doi:10.22358/jafs/69193/1998

Abstract

1. Influences of the number of fetuses and levels of CP and ME in gestation and lactation supplements on performance of Spanish does and kids during suckling and post-weaning D.S Ivey, F.N Owens, T Sahlu, T.H Teh, L.J Dawson, G.A Campbell, A.L Goetsch Small Ruminant Research CrossRef

Highlights

Milk production by ewes typically peaks in the second and third weeks of lactation, whereas, feed intake is greatest in weeks 5 and 6 (Rattray, 1992)
Concentrates are often used to supplement ewes consuming low to moderate quality forage-based diets to satisfy energy and amino acid demands of lactation, which are greater for multiple vs single lambs. It is unclear if growth potential of lambs, as influenced by sire breed, has effects on nutrient demands for lactation similar to those of litter size
Often the composition of concentrate supplements for ewes is constant throughout lactation, the quantity may vary as lactation advances and milk production slowly declines after the peak, with increasing dry feed consumption by lambs as lactation advances, and(or) with changes in forage quality or availability

Summary

Introduction

Milk production by ewes typically peaks in the second and third weeks of lactation, whereas, feed intake is greatest in weeks 5 and 6 (Rattray, 1992). Concentrates are often used to supplement ewes consuming low to moderate quality forage-based diets to satisfy energy and amino acid demands of lactation, which are greater for multiple vs single lambs It is unclear if growth potential of lambs, as influenced by sire breed, has effects on nutrient demands for lactation similar to those of litter size. Temporal shifts in the level and composition of supplemental concentrate in early lactation could elicit physiological changes that alter the magnitude or length of peak milk production and, improve lamb growth Objectives of this experiment were to investigate effects of biological type or growth potential of lambs, lamb gender, litter size, and different concentrate supplements on performance of ewes and lambs in the first 8 weeks of lactation while consuming low to moderate quality grass hay

Results

Discussion

Conclusion