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Effect of Pre and Post-natal Nutrition on the Performance of Ewes and Their Lambs

Dr. Sadek Ahmed
Senior Scientific Officer
GSPRD, BLRI, Savar, Dhaka 1341

Dr. Nusrat Jahan
Faculty Member, College of Agricultural Science
International University of Business Agriculture and Technology, Uttara, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Dr. Md. Azharul Islam Talukder
CSO
GSPRD, BLRI, Savar, Dhaka 1341

Rahat Ara Karim
SO
Conservation and Improvement of Native Sheep through Community and Commercial Farming, GSPRD, BLRI. Savar, Dhaka 1341

Mrs. Nasrin Sultana
PSO
APRD, BLRI, Savar, Dhaka 1341

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Ewe nutrition during the last period of pregnancy is a main factor affecting milk yield, birth weight and pre-weaning lambs growth rate. Thus the study was conducted to evaluate the performance of ewes and their lambs until weaning. 36 native ewes of last 7 weeks pregnancy were allocated to four treatment groups (T₀, T₁, T₂, T₃). The T₁, T₂ and T₃ groups were supplemented a concentrate mixture at 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0% of their body weight, respectively while T₀ was control group with ad libitum german grass. After parturition, lambs were supplemented a creep mixture. Milk yield, body weight of ewes and their lambs, feed intake, rectal temperature, litter size and post-partum oestrus of ewes with birth weight, sex, weight gain and weaning weight of lambs were recorded. Data were analysed using the GLM and DMRT of SAS version 9.0. The results of this experiment indicated that supplementation of concentrate significantly increase DM intake of ewes, daily gain of lams and lambs final weight. The group (T₂)fed ad libitum German grass with concentrate at 1.5% of their body weight performed better compare to other groups.

Keywords: Pre and post natal nutrition of ewe, Effective lamb production, Native sheep

Location: Sheep and Goat Research Farm, BLRI, Savar, Dhaka

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Quality and Nutrition

Commodity: Sheep

Objectives:

To evaluate the performance of ewes and their lambs until weaning

Methodology:

Thirty-six native ewes between 2-5 parity were randomly allocated to four treatment groups (T₀, T₁, T₂, T₃) at about 7 weeks before parturition. Ewes were housed individual cage and lambs remained with their dams continuously except for the days of milk measurement and had restricted excess to a creep diet. Ewes of all the treatment group were supplied ad libitum German grass(Echinochloa polystachya) but T₁, T₂ and T₃ group were supplemented a concentrate mixture (Crushed Maize 40%, Soybean meal 26 %, Wheat bran 22%, Rice polish 10%, Salt 1%, Vitamin-mineral premix 0.5% and DCP 0.5%), at 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0% of their body weight, respectively. So, group T₀ considered as control group. After parturition, lambs were supplemented a creep mixture (Crushed maize 68%, Soybean meal 30 %, Vitamin-minarel premix 1%, Salt 1%) from the age of 2 weeks at 20g/lamb/day with an weekly increment of 10g /lamb. Beside this,small amount of German grass were also provided to the lambs ad libitum basis from the age of 4 weeks. Milk yield were measured over a 24h period by suckling method and repeated weekly over the entire lactation period. The single weekly estimate of milk yield was assumed to represent the average daily milk yield for the week in which it was measured. Ewes and their lambs were weighted weekly.Feed intake, milk yield, rectal temperature, litter size and post-partum oestrus of ewes with birth weight, sex, weight gain and weaning weight of lambs were also recorded. Since the experiment going on, data only onset of experiment to 6 weeks postpartum were used for statistical elaboration. Data were analysed using the GLM procedure of the SAS, version 9.0. The differences were tested by DMRT using GLM of SAS.

Source of Information: BLRI. Annual Research Review Workshop-2015. Savar Bangladesh. pp15-16

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1. Government

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The results of this experiment indicated that supplementation of concentrate significantly increase DM intake of ewes, daily gain of lams and lambs final weight. Comparing different parameters like, DM intake of ewes, lambs birth weight and daily gain with ewes milk production, the group (T₂) fed ad libitum German grass with concentrate at 1.5% of their body weight performed better compare to other groups.

Knowledge Management: Report/Proceedings