Effects of maternal nutrition on udder development during late pregnancy and on colostrum production in Scottish Blackface ewes with twin lambs

Abstract

Effects on udder development and colostrum production of changing the level of ewe nutrition were investigated. Udder weights at term were derived from their linear dimensions and yields of colostrum were obtained by hand milking on three occasions between one and 18 hours after birth. The linear dimensions of the udder increased progressively in all animals between 100 days of gestation and term (about 145 days), but udder development was retarded significantly within three days of the onset of underfeeding at 105 days of gestation. Underfeeding reduced the total yield of colostrum during the first 18 hours after birth by decreasing the prenatal accumulation of colostrum and its subsequent rates of secretion. Improving the ewe's nutrition from one hour after birth tended to increase the secretion rates of colostrum between 10 and 18 hours. Refeeding previously underfed ewes to high levels from about five days before birth had no effect on udder growth but did increase the prenatal accumulation of colostrum and its subsequent rates of secretion to levels which, when corrected for differences in udder weight, were similar to those of ewes which were fed well throughout. Calculations revealed that by ignoring udder growth the Agricultural Research Council recommendations for the energy requirements of pregnant ewes underestimate the cost of tissue synthesis during the last four weeks of pregnancy by about 100 per cent.