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Colostrum production by prolific ewes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 November 2017

S. Pattinson ,
D.A.R. Davies  and
A. Winter
S. Pattinson
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Husbandry, University of Liverpool, Veterinary Field Station, Leahurst, Neston, South Wirral L64 7TE
D.A.R. Davies
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Husbandry, University of Liverpool, Veterinary Field Station, Leahurst, Neston, South Wirral L64 7TE
A. Winter
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Clinical Science, University of Liverpool, Veterinary Field Station, Leahurst, Neston, South Wirral L64 7TE
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Extract

The production of colostrum by prolific ewes is of particular importance because of the increased demand of larger litters. Robinson (1985) has shown that there is a sharp increase in the ewe's net protein requirement for udder growth and colostrum production in the last 2 weeks pre-partum.

The trial was designed to investigate the effect of level of protein in the diet during the last weeks of pregnancy on the quantity and quality of colostrum produced by prolific ewes.

Forty-four Cambridge ewes aged 2 to 7 years and scanned as carrying two to four lambs were used. Ewes were housed and sheared approximately 2 months pre-partum and fed a complete diet at a restricted level and hay ad libitum until the commencement of the feeding trial at 2 weeks pre-partum. The ewes were then individually penned until 5 days post partum. During this period the ewes were fed ad libitum one of the two complete diets detailed in Table 1 together with hay ad libitum.

Type
Sheep production
Information
Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Production (1972) , Volume 1991 , March 1991 , pp. 79
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Production 1991

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References

Mellor, D.J. and Murray, L. 1986. Making the most of colostrum at lambing. Vet. Rec. 118: 351–353.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Robinson, J.J. 1985. Nutritional requirements of the pregnant and lactating ewe. In: Genetics of Reproduction in Sheep (eds. Land, R.B. and Robinson, D.W.) pp. 361–370. Butterworths, London CrossRefGoogle Scholar