Effects of age and nutritional status at mating on the reproductive and productive traits in Suffolk sheep kept under permanent outdoor management system

This study examined the variability of reproductive and productive traits in Suffolk sheep (a commercial flock, n = 316 ewes) with regard to the dams' age or the nutritional status of sheep at mating under a year-round outdoor management. Data were collected across a 3-year monitoring period (t...

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Main Authors: Martin Ptáček, Jaromír Ducháček, Luděk Stádník, Milena Fantová
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences 2017-05-01
Series:Czech Journal of Animal Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/artkey/cjs-201705-0004_effects-of-age-and-nutritional-status-at-mating-on-the-reproductive-and-productive-traits-in-suffolk-sheep-kept.php
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author Martin Ptáček
Jaromír Ducháček
Luděk Stádník
Milena Fantová
author_facet Martin Ptáček
Jaromír Ducháček
Luděk Stádník
Milena Fantová
author_sort Martin Ptáček
collection DOAJ
description This study examined the variability of reproductive and productive traits in Suffolk sheep (a commercial flock, n = 316 ewes) with regard to the dams' age or the nutritional status of sheep at mating under a year-round outdoor management. Data were collected across a 3-year monitoring period (totally 655 observations). The fixed effects of dam's age (dams grouped as: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 years and older), ewe's live weight (LW; ewes grouped as: < 72 kg; 72-83 kg; > 83 kg), and backfat thickness at mating (BT; ewes grouped as: < 7.9 mm; 7.9-10.5 mm; > 10.5 mm) were evaluated. The dam's age influenced reproductive and productive traits such that 2- and 6-year and older ewes reached the lowest values. Ewes with LW > 83 kg had significantly higher lambing rate (11.8%) compared to those with LW < 72 kg. The group of ewes with LW < 72 kg gave birth to a significantly lower number of live lambs in litter (-8.9%) in comparison with LW < 83 kg group. An increase (9.9%; P < 0.01) of total litter weight at birth or an increase (12.5%; P < 0.05) of total litter weight at 100 days of age were detected in LW > 83 kg group compared to LW < 72 kg group. BT > 10.5 mm ewes had by 8.9% lower lambing rate (P < 0.05), by 6.8% lower litter size (P < 0.05), by 14.5% lower number of live lambs in litter (P < 0.01), and by 8.6% lower total litter weight at birth compared to BT < 7.9 mm ewes. A significantly lower total litter weight at 100 days of age (-10.8%) and a significantly lower total litter gain from birth to 100 days of age (-11.5%) were detected in BT > 10.5 mm ewes in comparison to BT 7.9-10.5 mm ewes.
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spelling doaj.art-3947d163805542a88406d5d274d4baa82023-02-23T03:33:30ZengCzech Academy of Agricultural SciencesCzech Journal of Animal Science1212-18191805-93092017-05-0162521121810.17221/63/2016-CJAScjs-201705-0004Effects of age and nutritional status at mating on the reproductive and productive traits in Suffolk sheep kept under permanent outdoor management systemMartin PtáčekJaromír Ducháček0Luděk Stádník1Milena Fantová2Department of Animal Husbandry, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech RepublicDepartment of Animal Husbandry, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech RepublicDepartment of Animal Husbandry, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech RepublicThis study examined the variability of reproductive and productive traits in Suffolk sheep (a commercial flock, n = 316 ewes) with regard to the dams' age or the nutritional status of sheep at mating under a year-round outdoor management. Data were collected across a 3-year monitoring period (totally 655 observations). The fixed effects of dam's age (dams grouped as: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 years and older), ewe's live weight (LW; ewes grouped as: < 72 kg; 72-83 kg; > 83 kg), and backfat thickness at mating (BT; ewes grouped as: < 7.9 mm; 7.9-10.5 mm; > 10.5 mm) were evaluated. The dam's age influenced reproductive and productive traits such that 2- and 6-year and older ewes reached the lowest values. Ewes with LW > 83 kg had significantly higher lambing rate (11.8%) compared to those with LW < 72 kg. The group of ewes with LW < 72 kg gave birth to a significantly lower number of live lambs in litter (-8.9%) in comparison with LW < 83 kg group. An increase (9.9%; P < 0.01) of total litter weight at birth or an increase (12.5%; P < 0.05) of total litter weight at 100 days of age were detected in LW > 83 kg group compared to LW < 72 kg group. BT > 10.5 mm ewes had by 8.9% lower lambing rate (P < 0.05), by 6.8% lower litter size (P < 0.05), by 14.5% lower number of live lambs in litter (P < 0.01), and by 8.6% lower total litter weight at birth compared to BT < 7.9 mm ewes. A significantly lower total litter weight at 100 days of age (-10.8%) and a significantly lower total litter gain from birth to 100 days of age (-11.5%) were detected in BT > 10.5 mm ewes in comparison to BT 7.9-10.5 mm ewes.https://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/artkey/cjs-201705-0004_effects-of-age-and-nutritional-status-at-mating-on-the-reproductive-and-productive-traits-in-suffolk-sheep-kept.phplive weightbackfat thicknessbody condition scorelamb
spellingShingle Martin Ptáček
Jaromír Ducháček
Luděk Stádník
Milena Fantová
Effects of age and nutritional status at mating on the reproductive and productive traits in Suffolk sheep kept under permanent outdoor management system
Czech Journal of Animal Science
live weight
backfat thickness
body condition score
lamb
title Effects of age and nutritional status at mating on the reproductive and productive traits in Suffolk sheep kept under permanent outdoor management system
title_full Effects of age and nutritional status at mating on the reproductive and productive traits in Suffolk sheep kept under permanent outdoor management system
title_fullStr Effects of age and nutritional status at mating on the reproductive and productive traits in Suffolk sheep kept under permanent outdoor management system
title_full_unstemmed Effects of age and nutritional status at mating on the reproductive and productive traits in Suffolk sheep kept under permanent outdoor management system
title_short Effects of age and nutritional status at mating on the reproductive and productive traits in Suffolk sheep kept under permanent outdoor management system
title_sort effects of age and nutritional status at mating on the reproductive and productive traits in suffolk sheep kept under permanent outdoor management system
topic live weight
backfat thickness
body condition score
lamb
url https://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/artkey/cjs-201705-0004_effects-of-age-and-nutritional-status-at-mating-on-the-reproductive-and-productive-traits-in-suffolk-sheep-kept.php
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AT ludekstadnik effectsofageandnutritionalstatusatmatingonthereproductiveandproductivetraitsinsuffolksheepkeptunderpermanentoutdoormanagementsystem
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