Nutrition effects on live weight and reproduction of Cashmere
doe hoggets
D.G. McCall, J.B. Clayton and B.W. Dow
MAFTech, Whatawhata Research Centre, Hamilton and MAFTech,
Ruakura Agricultural Centre, Hamilton
Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production.
1989, 49: 157-162
Effects of autumn-winter feeding level on live weight and the
timing and success of hogget mating were studied in 180 cashmere doe
hoggets bred from ferals in each of 2 years. They were fed pasture
allowances of 0.8 (L nutrition) or 3 kg DM/hd/d (H nutrition) from 10
March to 30 June in 1986 and from 1 May to 10 July in 1987. Start live
weights were 13 and 13.3 kg in 1986 and 1987, respectively. In both
year H and L hoggets entered a period of weight stasis. H and L group
live weight increased to 15.2 and 13.9 kg respectively by 2 May 1986 and
then remained almost static. In 1987 H live weight increased to 14.8 kg
by 29 May before stasis. L live weights declined slightly. Entire
bucks were joined from 1 May to 12 June each year. Teasers were present
outside of these times. Peak incidence of puberty occurred between 14
and 29 May in both years and for both H and L treatments. More H
hoggets showed oestrus than L hoggets (74 v 37% in 1986 and 62 v 42% in
1987). This reflected in a greater percent of H hoggets diagnosed as
pregnant when scanned ultrasonically in July (HP/HJ) of 45% v 18% in
1986 and 50% v 34% in 1987. High nutrition appeared to improve hogget
puberty rate over and above its effect on live weight in 1986 but not in
1987. Low levels of cashmere down production were recorded (57 g) and
these were not influenced by differences in nutrition.
Keywords: NZSAPAB;
Doe hogget; cashmere; nutrition; liveweight stasis; puberty;
pregnancy; reproduction; pasture allowance
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Last Updated 18-03-1997
