Hogget lambing and its effect on the subsequent two-tooth
performance of three breeds
R.W. Moore, R.M.W. Sumner; J.J. Bass, H-U.P. Hockey
Whatawhata Hill Country Research Centre, Ministry of Agriculture
and Fisheries, Hamilton; Ruakura Animal Research Station, Ministry of
Agriculture and Fisheries, Hamilton
Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production.
1983, 43: 21-24
Matched groups of ewe hoggets were mated to either fertile
Southdown rams or vasectomised rams for a 6-week period in 1980 and 1981.
The percentage of Romney, Coopworth and Perendale hoggets born in 1979
showing oestrus were 82, 92 and 92, and for those born in 1980 47, 84
and 79 respectively. The lower incidence of oestrus in those born on
1980 can be partly explained by lower hogget pre-lambing weights related
to an outbreak of facial eczema in April 1981. Of hoggets joined to
fertile rams, the percentages that weaned a lamb were 47, 60 and 67 for
those born in 1979, and 13, 53 and 52 for those born in 1980.
The percentages of two-tooths joined that weaned a lamb (average for
those born in 1979 and 1980) were 71 for those not tupped as hoggets, 74
for those tupped by vasectomised rams, 53 for those tupped by fertile
rams but not lambing, and 76 for those lambing as hoggets. There was no
suggestion that hogget lambing impaired two-tooth reproduction, but
those lambing produced 0.15 kg less wool at the two-tooth pre-mating
shearing.
The April 1981 GGT level of the 1980-born ewes was inversely related to
live weight in April through to September 1981, and to percentage of
ewes lambing as hoggets and as two-tooths, and to two-tooth pre-mating
fleece weight.
Keywords: NZSAPAB;
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Last Updated 03-05-1997
