The effects of shearing Finnish Landrace x Romney ewes in mid-pregnancy on
lamb survival, birth and other weights
D.C. Smeaton, R.W. Webby, I. Tarbotton and J.B. Clayton
AgResearch, Ruakura Research Centre, Private Bag 3123, Hamilton
Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production.
2000 60: 58-60
In each of 2 years, 600 Finnish Landrace x Romney ewes were
subjected to a range of nutrition levels in early to mid-pregnancy. Half
the ewes were then shorn at day 70 of pregnancy with a standard comb. In
the first year (1997), shearing treatment had no impact on single lamb
birth and weaning weights, which were 5 and 29 kg respectively.
Treatment improved twin lamb birth weights by 0.2 kg (P<0.01) and
weaning weights by 1.4 kg (P<0.10). In the second year (1998), shearing
treatment benefited single lamb birth weight (0.2kg; P<0.10), and
weaning weight (1kg; P<0.01) and improved twin lamb birth weight by 0.2
kg (P<0.01). In both years, lambing rate and survival were not affected.
Ewe weaning weight, also in both years, was slightly higher in the ewes
shorn at day 70 of pregnancy (P<0.05).
Keywords: NZSAPAB;
pregnancy; ewe; shearing; lamb; survival; weight
Last Updated 12-07-2000
