Abstract

Previous studies at this centre have shown that extended grazing ewes in mid (Keady et al., 2007, Keady and Hanrahan 2009b) late (Keady et al., 2007) or throughout (Keady et al. 2007, 2008, Keady and Hanrahan 2009a) pregnancy increased lamb birth and weaning weights relative to progeny from ewes which were housed unshorn. Stocking rate needs to be reduced dramatically to facilitate year round grazing (Keady et al. 2008) as herbage availability during early autumn (to prepare ewes for mating, finish remaining lambs and enable a sufficient proportion of the farm to be rested to build up sufficient herbage for extended grazing) is the major limitation (Keady and Hanrahan, 2007). Keady and Hanrahan (2009b) showed that increasing herbage allowance to ewes in mid pregnancy decreased herbage utilisation but increased forage intake, ewe condition and subsequent lamb birth and weaning weights. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effects of herbage allowance and frequency of allocation to ewes in mid pregnancy on ewe and subsequent lamb performance. Furthermore the effects of extended grazing management on subsequent herbage yield and ground cover were also evaluated.

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