Techniques to establish flocks from fecund ewes by
superovulation with and without ova transfer
R.W. Kelly, R.P. Lewer, A.J. Allison, A. Paterson, M. Howarth
Invermay Agricultural Centre, Ministry of Agriculture and
Fisheries, Mosgiel
Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production.
1983, 43: 205-208
Superovulation with ova transfer (1979, 1980) and superovulation
(without ova transfer) plus artificial rearing (1981, 1982) were used to
establish flocks of Romney, Perendale and Coopworth sheep from fecund
animals donated by farmers. In their first and second years
respectively in the ova transfer programme, 39% and 32% of donor ewes
failed to have any progeny by ova transfer, and 38% and 44% failed to
lamb themselves while the mean number of lambs tailed per donor at
joining was 2.68 and 2.21. In their first and second years respectively
in the artificial rearing programme only 7% and 3% of ewes failed to
produce a lamb with a mean number of lambs born per donor joined of 2.15
and 2.36. High lamb mortality rates (27% and 32% of lambs born)
resulted in 1.58 and 1.64 lambs tailed/ewe/annum. About 40% of ewes
failed to reach the objective of at least 2 live lambs/ewe/annum in both
programmes.
Keywords: NZSAPAB;
Sheep; reproduction; superovulation; ova transfer; artificial
rearing; lamb production
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