Mammary Gland Structures Are Not Affected by an Increased Growth Rate of Yearling Ewes Post-Weaning but Are Associated with Growth Rates of Singletons
The experiment aimed to examine the impacts of an increased growth rate of ewes between three and seven months of age on udder development using ultrasound and to establish whether ultrasonography could be used to identify ewe mammary structures that may be indirect indicators of singleton growth to...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2021-03-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/3/884 |
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| author | Emmanuelle Haslin Rene A. Corner-Thomas Paul R. Kenyon Adrian J. Molenaar Stephen T. Morris Hugh T. Blair |
| author_facet | Emmanuelle Haslin Rene A. Corner-Thomas Paul R. Kenyon Adrian J. Molenaar Stephen T. Morris Hugh T. Blair |
| author_sort | Emmanuelle Haslin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The experiment aimed to examine the impacts of an increased growth rate of ewes between three and seven months of age on udder development using ultrasound and to establish whether ultrasonography could be used to identify ewe mammary structures that may be indirect indicators of singleton growth to weaning. Udder dimensions, depths of gland cistern (GC), parenchyma (PAR) and fat pad (FP) were measured in late pregnancy (P107), early lactation (L29), and at weaning (L100) in 59 single-bearing yearling ewes selected from two treatments. The ‘heavy’ group (n = 31) was preferentially fed prior to breeding achieving an average breeding live-weight of 47.9 ± 0.38 kg at seven months of age. The ‘control’ group (n = 28) had an average breeding live-weight of 44.9 ± 0.49 kg. Udder dimensions, GC, PAR and FP did not differ between treatments. Lamb growth to L100 was positively associated (<i>p</i> < 0.05) with PAR at P107 and GC at L29. There was no evidence of negative effects of the live-weight gain treatments on udder development of yearling ewes as measured by ultrasonography. The results suggest that this ultrasound method has the potential to identify pregnant yearling ewes which would wean heavier singletons. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:03:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-56570911862d4aca8831a5eca1bc832b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:03:47Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-56570911862d4aca8831a5eca1bc832b2023-11-21T11:15:24ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152021-03-0111388410.3390/ani11030884Mammary Gland Structures Are Not Affected by an Increased Growth Rate of Yearling Ewes Post-Weaning but Are Associated with Growth Rates of SingletonsEmmanuelle Haslin0Rene A. Corner-Thomas1Paul R. Kenyon2Adrian J. Molenaar3Stephen T. Morris4Hugh T. Blair5School of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Palmerston North 4474, New ZealandSchool of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Palmerston North 4474, New ZealandSchool of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Palmerston North 4474, New ZealandAgResearch Ltd., Grassland Research Centre, Palmerston North 4474, New ZealandSchool of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Palmerston North 4474, New ZealandSchool of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Palmerston North 4474, New ZealandThe experiment aimed to examine the impacts of an increased growth rate of ewes between three and seven months of age on udder development using ultrasound and to establish whether ultrasonography could be used to identify ewe mammary structures that may be indirect indicators of singleton growth to weaning. Udder dimensions, depths of gland cistern (GC), parenchyma (PAR) and fat pad (FP) were measured in late pregnancy (P107), early lactation (L29), and at weaning (L100) in 59 single-bearing yearling ewes selected from two treatments. The ‘heavy’ group (n = 31) was preferentially fed prior to breeding achieving an average breeding live-weight of 47.9 ± 0.38 kg at seven months of age. The ‘control’ group (n = 28) had an average breeding live-weight of 44.9 ± 0.49 kg. Udder dimensions, GC, PAR and FP did not differ between treatments. Lamb growth to L100 was positively associated (<i>p</i> < 0.05) with PAR at P107 and GC at L29. There was no evidence of negative effects of the live-weight gain treatments on udder development of yearling ewes as measured by ultrasonography. The results suggest that this ultrasound method has the potential to identify pregnant yearling ewes which would wean heavier singletons.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/3/884ewe lambgland cisternparenchymaultrasonographyewe hogget |
| spellingShingle | Emmanuelle Haslin Rene A. Corner-Thomas Paul R. Kenyon Adrian J. Molenaar Stephen T. Morris Hugh T. Blair Mammary Gland Structures Are Not Affected by an Increased Growth Rate of Yearling Ewes Post-Weaning but Are Associated with Growth Rates of Singletons Animals ewe lamb gland cistern parenchyma ultrasonography ewe hogget |
| title | Mammary Gland Structures Are Not Affected by an Increased Growth Rate of Yearling Ewes Post-Weaning but Are Associated with Growth Rates of Singletons |
| title_full | Mammary Gland Structures Are Not Affected by an Increased Growth Rate of Yearling Ewes Post-Weaning but Are Associated with Growth Rates of Singletons |
| title_fullStr | Mammary Gland Structures Are Not Affected by an Increased Growth Rate of Yearling Ewes Post-Weaning but Are Associated with Growth Rates of Singletons |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mammary Gland Structures Are Not Affected by an Increased Growth Rate of Yearling Ewes Post-Weaning but Are Associated with Growth Rates of Singletons |
| title_short | Mammary Gland Structures Are Not Affected by an Increased Growth Rate of Yearling Ewes Post-Weaning but Are Associated with Growth Rates of Singletons |
| title_sort | mammary gland structures are not affected by an increased growth rate of yearling ewes post weaning but are associated with growth rates of singletons |
| topic | ewe lamb gland cistern parenchyma ultrasonography ewe hogget |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/3/884 |
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