Nutritional supplementation during the last week of gestation increased the volume and reduced the viscosity of colostrum produced by twin bearing ewes selected for nervous temperament

Abstract

Lamb survival is affected by maternal temperament and the quality and availability of colostrum available soon after birth. In this study we tested whether nutritional supplementation of calm ewes would increase the volume and reduce the viscosity of colostrum compared to ewes selected for nervous temperament. Twin-bearing Merino ewes of calm or nervous temperament were either fed at maintenance or supplemented with barley during the last week of gestation. The weight of colostrum was measured at 1, 3, 6 and 12h after birth and analysed for viscosity, fat, lactose, protein and immunoglobulins. During the first hour after birth, calm ewes produced more colostrum than nervous ewes fed at maintenance (P<0.05). Supplementation increased the volume and reduced the viscosity of colostrum produced by nervous ewes to a level comparable to that produced by calm ewes (P>0.1). Supplementation increased the concentration of lactose and decreased the concentration of protein in all ewes (P<0.05). Neither nutritional supplementation nor temperament affected the concentration of fat or total solids in the colostrum (P>0.1). In conclusion, nervous temperament predisposes twin-bearing Merino ewes to produce a lower volume of higher viscosity colostrum than ewes selected for calm temperament. Nutritional supplementation appears to correct this disparity, potentially by increasing the biological resources available for colostrum production in nervous ewes.