Grazing alternative herbages in lactation increases the liveweight of both ewe lambs and their progeny at weaning

Abstract

Breeding ewe lambs is a management tool that can be used to increase farm profit. However, there are potential negative impacts on the liveweight of progeny at weaning and the liveweight of the ewe lamb at the following breeding. A potential method of minimising these impacts is through the provision of quality herbages such as lucerne or a herb mix containing chicory, plantain, and red and white clover. The aim of this 2-year study was to examine the impact of offering ewe lambs either a traditional ryegrass and white clover pasture (Pasture), Herb-mix or Lucerne throughout the lambing period and in lactation. During lactation in both years of the study, ewe lambs offered the Herb-mix or Lucerne treatments were heavier (P < 0.05) than those offered Pasture. In addition, progeny of ewe lambs offered the Herb-mix or Lucerne treatment were also heavier (P < 0.05) in lactation than those born onto ryegrass white clover. Interestingly, in one of the 2 years, the ewes and their progeny on the Lucerne treatment were heavier (P < 0.05) in lactation than those in the Herb-mix treatment. Combined, these results indicated that offering either Herb-mix or Lucerne increases the performance of the young dam and her progeny above that found on a ryegrass and white clover sward.