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Studies on reproduction in prolific ewes. 4. Sequential changes in the maternal body during pregnancy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

J. J. Robinson ,
I. McDonald ,
I. McHattie  and
K. Pennie
J. J. Robinson
Affiliation:
The Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB2 9SB
I. McDonald
Affiliation:
The Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB2 9SB
I. McHattie
Affiliation:
The Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB2 9SB
K. Pennie
Affiliation:
The Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB2 9SB
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Summary

Seventy-eight Finnish Landrace × Dorset Horn ewes in lamb to Suffolk rams were slaughtered serially between 50 and 145 days of gestation. The mean litter size was 2·7. The daily feeding regime aimed to provide each ewe with 15 MJ of metabolizable energy (ME) in the first month of gestation and 9·4 MJ in the second and third. Thereafter the ewes were provided with a basal intake of either 9·6 MJ (low plane, LP) or 13·4 MJ (high plane, HP) plus 1·3 MJ for each foetus.

For ewes with 2, 3 and 4 foetuses the mean percentage changes in maternal body weight over pregnancy were respectively — 5, — 10 and — 14 (LP) or + 3, — 2 and — 6 (HP). Changes in weights of blood, liver and the empty gastro-intestinal tract through gestation varied with the plane of nutrition but not with number of foetuses. In contrast, udder weight at parturition was dependent on number of foetuses but not on plane of nutrition.

Increased hydration of the maternal tissues in late pregnancy tended to mask concurrent losses of body fat. For example, over the last 2 months, HP ewes carrying quadruplets lost on average 1·0 kg in body weight but 5·5 kg of (chemically determined) fat. The latter was lost at a rate which increased up to an average of 170 g/day over the last 2 weeks of pregnancy. Net changes in body protein were estimated to be relatively small, but there was some redistribution, including loss from muscle and gain by the udder. There was no evidence of any demineralization of the maternal skeleton.

The practical significance of the changes in body composition is discussed, in particular that of the increasing rates of loss of body fat with increasing litter size. It is suggested that the dangers implicit in these rates of fat loss must be taken into consideration when deciding on dietary regimes and the timing of breeding cycles for highly prolific ewes, or indeed when embarking on a programme of increased prolificacy.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 91 , Issue 2 , October 1978 , pp. 291 - 304
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1978

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References

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