Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-g7gxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-13T06:23:39.697Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Changes in live weight and body condition of rams of three breeds throughout the year

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

A. J. F. Russel
Affiliation:
Hill Farming Research Organisation, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian, EH26 0PH
A. J. MacDonald
Affiliation:
Hill Farming Research Organisation, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian, EH26 0PH
C. D. Kerr
Affiliation:
Hill Farming Research Organisation, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian, EH26 0PH
Brenda Rudd
Affiliation:
Hill Farming Research Organisation, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian, EH26 0PH
Get access

Summary

Measurements of the live weight and body condition of 105 Scottish Blackface, North Country Cheviot and South Country Cheviot male sheep (rams) per year were made at three locations over a period of 2 years.

A distinct cyclical pattern of change in live weight and body condition throughout the year was apparent in all rams. Maximum values recorded in the autumn were followed by rapid and substantial losses throughout the mating period, with recovery of both weight and condition during the spring and summer months. The amplitude of the annual live-weight curve was of the order of 20 kg (22%) and that of body condition was more than 1 unit.

The patterns of annual change in live weight and of inferred change in body composition of rams are compared with those of ewes, and some of the probable effects on production are considered.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1976

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Blaxter, K. L., Wainman, F. W. and Wilson, R. S. 1961. The regulation of food intake by sheep. Anim. Prod. 3: 5161.Google Scholar
Doney, J. M. and Russel, A. J. F. 1968. Differences amongst breeds of sheep in food requirements for maintenance and live-weight change. J.agric. Sci., Camb. 71: 343349.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Eadie, J. 1971. Hill pastoral resources and sheep production. Proc. Nutr. Soc. 30: 204210.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lucas, I. A. M. 1975. The contribution of science to the improvement of hill sheep production. Proc. Br. Soc. Anim. Prod. (New Series) 4: 4567.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
OkòLski, A., Szuperski, T. and Bielanski, W. 1971. Sexual behaviour and semen characteristics of rams during severe underfeeding. Bull. Acad. pol. Sci. Cl. II Sir. Sci. biol. 19: 701705.Google Scholar
Parker, G. V. and Thwaites, C. J. 1972. The effects of undernutrition on libido and semen quality in adult Merino rams. Aust. J. agric. Res. 23: 109115.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pretorius, P. S. 1969. Seasonal changes in semen characteristics of Merino rams on different feeding levels. Agroanimalia 1: 5359.Google Scholar
Rabocev, V. K. 1968. [The theory and practice of inseminating sheep with preserved semen.] Sb. nauchno-issled. Rab. Aspirant, vses nauchno-issled. Inst. Ovtsev. Kozov. 1: 103110.Google Scholar
Russel, A. J. F. 1971. Relationships between energy and productivity in hill sheep. Proc. Nutr. Soc. 30: 197204.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Russel, A. J. F., Doney, J. M. and Gunn, R. G. 1969. Subjective assessment of body fat in live sheep. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 72: 451454.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Russel, A. J. F., Gunn, R. G. and Doney, J. M. 1968. Components of weight loss in pregnant ewes during winter. Anim. Prod. 10: 4351.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Semenov, S. I. and Koretskii, P. S. 1971. [The effect of type of feeding on the reproductive ability of rams and the quality of their progeny]. Trudy vses. nauchno-issled. Inst. Ovchev. Kozov. 31: 100106.Google Scholar
Solomonov, K. 1971. [Production and fertility of ram spermatozoa at different levels of nutrition.] Zhivot. Nauk. 8: 109116.Google Scholar