Lamb survival and weight at marking may be reduced in ewes lambing on forage oats after grazing lucerne during late pregnancy

IF 1.4 4区 农林科学 Q2 Agricultural and Biological Sciences Animal Production Science Pub Date : 2024-04-19 DOI:10.1071/an23364
Susan M. Robertson, Walter Morton, Michael A. Friend, Bruce Allworth, M. Bhanugopan
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Abstract

Context Grazing of cereal forage crops is perceived as a risk for increased perinatal lamb mortality. Aims This study evaluated whether grazing oat forage during late pregnancy and/or the lambing period increased lamb mortality compared with grazing a legume (lucerne)-based pasture. Methods Merino ewes (n = 636) were allocated to two replicates of two litter sizes (singles or twins), which grazed the following three forage treatments: either legume-based pasture or oat forage (Avena sativa) from 42 days before and throughout a 4-week lambing period, or a legume-based pasture until 9–12 days pre-lambing before grazing oats throughout the lambing period. All groups were offered a calcium, magnesium and sodium mineral supplement to reduce the risk of deficiency. Key results Lamb survival to marking was similar for ewes grazing legumes (84.2 ± 1.94%) or oat forage (78.5 ± 1.94%) throughout, but was reduced (P = 0.022) for ewes that grazed oats only during the lambing period (71.0 ± 1.94%) compared with those that remained on legumes. The latter was associated with a greater (P = 0.016) loss of condition score in the ewes. The weight of lambs at marking age was 2 kg higher (P ≤ 0.05) when grazed on legume-based pasture during the 4 week lambing period rather than oats. Minimal ewe mortality (0.47%) occurred, no metabolic disease was observed and few ewes (1.3%) required assistance at parturition. None of the sampled ewes was subclinically deficient in calcium or magnesium. Conclusions The study indicates lamb survival was not reduced by grazing oats for an extended period throughout late pregnancy and lambing. Further research is required to determine whether the recorded reduction in lamb survival from grazing oats only during lambing occurs consistently. Implications Ewes may safely graze oat forage throughout late pregnancy and lambing when offered a calcium, magnesium and salt supplement, without this increasing perinatal lamb mortality relative to a legume-based pasture, but there may be a penalty in lamb growth rates and loss of ewe condition, and lamb survival may be reduced with an abrupt change to oats for the lambing period.
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妊娠晚期放牧苜蓿后在饲用燕麦上产羔的母羊,其羔羊存活率和打标时的体重可能会降低
背景 人们认为,放牧谷物饲料作物会增加围产期羔羊死亡率。目的 本研究评估了在妊娠晚期和/或产羔期间放牧燕麦牧草与放牧豆科牧草(苜蓿)相比是否会增加羔羊死亡率。方法 将美利奴母羊(n = 636)按两胎大小(单胎或双胎)分配到两个重复,分别放牧以下三种草料处理:从产羔前 42 天开始和整个 4 周产羔期放牧豆科牧草或燕麦草料(燕麦),或在产羔前 9-12 天放牧豆科牧草,然后在整个产羔期放牧燕麦。所有组别都提供钙、镁和钠矿物质补充剂,以降低缺钙风险。主要结果 在整个产羔期间放牧豆科牧草(84.2 ± 1.94%)或燕麦牧草(78.5 ± 1.94%)的母羊的羔羊存活率相似,但在产羔期间只放牧燕麦的母羊的羔羊存活率(71.0 ± 1.94%)比继续放牧豆科牧草的母羊要低(P = 0.022)。后者与母羊体况评分损失较大(P = 0.016)有关。在 4 周产羔期内,放牧豆科牧草的母羊比放牧燕麦的母羊在打标日龄的羔羊体重高出 2 千克(P ≤ 0.05)。母羊死亡率极低(0.47%),未观察到代谢性疾病,很少有母羊(1.3%)在分娩时需要帮助。所有抽样母羊均未出现亚临床钙或镁缺乏症。结论 研究表明,在整个妊娠后期和产羔期间长期放牧燕麦不会降低羔羊的存活率。需要进一步研究以确定仅在产羔期间放牧燕麦是否会导致羔羊存活率降低。意义 母羊在整个妊娠晚期和产羔期间都可以安全地放牧燕麦牧草,如果提供钙、镁和盐补充剂,与豆科牧草相比,燕麦牧草不会增加围产期羔羊死亡率,但可能会影响羔羊生长速度和母羊体况,在产羔期间突然改吃燕麦可能会降低羔羊存活率。
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来源期刊
Animal Production Science
Animal Production Science Agricultural and Biological Sciences-Food Science
CiteScore
3.00
自引率
7.10%
发文量
139
审稿时长
3-8 weeks
期刊介绍: Research papers in Animal Production Science focus on improving livestock and food production, and on the social and economic issues that influence primary producers. The journal (formerly known as Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture) is predominantly concerned with domesticated animals (beef cattle, dairy cows, sheep, pigs, goats and poultry); however, contributions on horses and wild animals may be published where relevant. Animal Production Science is published with the endorsement of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and the Australian Academy of Science.
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