Associations among Mammary Ultrasound Measurements, Milk Yield of Non-Dairy Ewe Lambs and the Growth of Their Single Lambs
Mammary cistern size was positively correlated with milk yield of mature dairy ewes, but the association in ewe lambs is unknown. This experiment aimed to examine the associations between mammary ultrasound measurements and the milk yield of ewe lambs at one year of age and to determine the accuracy...
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MDPI AG
2021-07-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/7/2052 |
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| author | Emmanuelle Haslin Rene A. Corner-Thomas Paul R. Kenyon Sam W. Peterson Stephen T. Morris Hugh T. Blair |
| author_facet | Emmanuelle Haslin Rene A. Corner-Thomas Paul R. Kenyon Sam W. Peterson Stephen T. Morris Hugh T. Blair |
| author_sort | Emmanuelle Haslin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Mammary cistern size was positively correlated with milk yield of mature dairy ewes, but the association in ewe lambs is unknown. This experiment aimed to examine the associations between mammary ultrasound measurements and the milk yield of ewe lambs at one year of age and to determine the accuracy of using maternal mammary ultrasound to predict single lamb growth rates. Single-bearing ewe lambs (n = 45) were randomly selected and 30 were milked once at weeks three (W3), five (W5), and seven (W7) of lactation. Mammary ultrasound scans were performed at day 110 of pregnancy, W3, W5, W7, and weaning (L69). Single lambs (n = 30) were weighed at birth and at each mammary scanning event. Udder measurements explained 26.8%, 21.4%, and 38.4% of the variation in milk yield at W3, W5 and W7, respectively, and 63.5% and 36.4% of the variation in single lamb growth to W3 and to L69. This ultrasound technique was more accurate in predicting single lamb growth to W3 than milk yield and may enable the identification of pregnant ewe lambs whose progeny would have greater growth rates. More research is needed to identify accurate indicators of superior milk yield and determine whether ultrasound could be used to select ewe lambs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:48:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-87030b11a66d48a689b5136a76bafbda |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:48:04Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-87030b11a66d48a689b5136a76bafbda2023-11-22T03:01:02ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152021-07-01117205210.3390/ani11072052Associations among Mammary Ultrasound Measurements, Milk Yield of Non-Dairy Ewe Lambs and the Growth of Their Single LambsEmmanuelle Haslin0Rene A. Corner-Thomas1Paul R. Kenyon2Sam W. Peterson3Stephen 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 ZealandSchool 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 ZealandMammary cistern size was positively correlated with milk yield of mature dairy ewes, but the association in ewe lambs is unknown. This experiment aimed to examine the associations between mammary ultrasound measurements and the milk yield of ewe lambs at one year of age and to determine the accuracy of using maternal mammary ultrasound to predict single lamb growth rates. Single-bearing ewe lambs (n = 45) were randomly selected and 30 were milked once at weeks three (W3), five (W5), and seven (W7) of lactation. Mammary ultrasound scans were performed at day 110 of pregnancy, W3, W5, W7, and weaning (L69). Single lambs (n = 30) were weighed at birth and at each mammary scanning event. Udder measurements explained 26.8%, 21.4%, and 38.4% of the variation in milk yield at W3, W5 and W7, respectively, and 63.5% and 36.4% of the variation in single lamb growth to W3 and to L69. This ultrasound technique was more accurate in predicting single lamb growth to W3 than milk yield and may enable the identification of pregnant ewe lambs whose progeny would have greater growth rates. More research is needed to identify accurate indicators of superior milk yield and determine whether ultrasound could be used to select ewe lambs.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/7/2052gland cisternultrasonographyparenchymafat padudder morphology |
| spellingShingle | Emmanuelle Haslin Rene A. Corner-Thomas Paul R. Kenyon Sam W. Peterson Stephen T. Morris Hugh T. Blair Associations among Mammary Ultrasound Measurements, Milk Yield of Non-Dairy Ewe Lambs and the Growth of Their Single Lambs Animals gland cistern ultrasonography parenchyma fat pad udder morphology |
| title | Associations among Mammary Ultrasound Measurements, Milk Yield of Non-Dairy Ewe Lambs and the Growth of Their Single Lambs |
| title_full | Associations among Mammary Ultrasound Measurements, Milk Yield of Non-Dairy Ewe Lambs and the Growth of Their Single Lambs |
| title_fullStr | Associations among Mammary Ultrasound Measurements, Milk Yield of Non-Dairy Ewe Lambs and the Growth of Their Single Lambs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Associations among Mammary Ultrasound Measurements, Milk Yield of Non-Dairy Ewe Lambs and the Growth of Their Single Lambs |
| title_short | Associations among Mammary Ultrasound Measurements, Milk Yield of Non-Dairy Ewe Lambs and the Growth of Their Single Lambs |
| title_sort | associations among mammary ultrasound measurements milk yield of non dairy ewe lambs and the growth of their single lambs |
| topic | gland cistern ultrasonography parenchyma fat pad udder morphology |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/7/2052 |
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