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Pre and Post-natal Nutrition of Ewes on the Performances of Native Bengal Ewes and Their Lambs

Sadek Ahmed
Goat and Sheep Production Research Division, Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Md. Rezaul Hai Rakib
Goat and Sheep Production Research Division, Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Rahat Ara Karim
Goat and Sheep Production Research Division, Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Swapon Kumar Fouzder
Department of Poultry Science, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Patuakhali, Bangladesh

Nusrat Jahan
Animal Biotechnology Division, National Institute of Biotechnology, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Nasrin Sultana
Goat and Sheep Production Research Division, Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Md. Ershaduzzaman
Goat and Sheep Production Research Division, Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The aim of the study is to determine the effects of different plane of nutrition during late pregnancy to lactation on the performances of ewes and their offspring to weaning. About 36 native Bengal ewes of last 7 weeks gestation were randomly assigned to four different groups (T₀, T₁, T₂, T₃). The T₀, T₁, T₂ and T₃ groups were supplemented a concentrate mixture at 0.0, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0% of their body weight, respectively. Chopped German grass (Echinochloa polystachya) was provided as basal forages to ewes and a creep mixture (20 g/lamb/day) to the lambs from 2 weeks of age with a weakly increase of 10 g/lamb. The results shown that ewes dry matter intake (p < 0.01), milk yield (p < 0.05), days open (p < 0.01), live weight gain before lambing (p < 0.01) and at weaning (p < 0.01) and weight recovery from late gestation to weaning (p < 0.05) improved with high plane of nutrition. Higher weight recovery found in T₂ group. Litter size had an effect on (p < 0.01) all weight traits of lambs and ewes milk yield. Sex of lamb also affects (p < 0.05) the weaning weight and daily gain of lambs.

Keywords: Ewes, Lamb, Pre and Post-natal Nutrition

Location: Goat and Sheep Production Research Farm, Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI), Savar, Dhaka-1341

Start Date: 00-11-2014

End Date: 00-04-2015

Program Area: Animal Health and Management

Commodity: Sheep

Objectives:

To know the effect of different level of nutrition during late pregnancy and lactation on the performances of native ewes and their lambs until weaning.

Methodology:

Experimental Site and Duration- The experiment was carried out at the Goat and Sheep Production Research Farm, Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI), Savar, Dhaka-1341, Bangladesh during November 2014 to April 2015. Experimental Animals and Feeding Management- A total of thirty-six native Bengal ewes between 2 to 5 parity were randomly allocated to four different treatment groups (T₀, T₁, T₂, T₃) at the stage of last 7 weeks pregnancy. Ewes were housed in individual cage and lambs remained with their dams until weaning except for the days of milk measurement. Ewes of all the treatment groups were supplied ad libitum German grass (Echinochloa polystachya) by chopping into the size of 1 to 1.5 inch. The ewes of T₁, T₂ and T₃ group were supplemented with 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 the rate of 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0% of their body weight, respectively and maintaining T₀ as control. After parturition, a creep mixture (Crushed maize 68%, Soybean meal 30%, Vitamin-mineral premix 1% and Salt 1%) was supplied to lambs at the age of 2 weeks @ 20g/lamb/day and a weekly increment of 10g/lamb/week was done. Beside this, a small amount of German grass was freely offered to the lambs in ad libitum basis from 04 weeks and onward. The required amount of grass and concentrates were divided into two equal parts and supplied twice daily (morning and evening). Parameter Studied- Dry matter intake (DMI), weight changes during the period of pregnancy to lactation, milk yield (MY), rectal temperature, litter size and days open (DO) of ewes with birth weight (BW), sex, daily gain (DG) and weaning weight (WW) of lambs were recorded. Weight of individual animal was measured at the onset of the trial and subsequently on weekly basis. Besides weekly weight, ewes were also weighted daily from 05 days before of their expected lambing date until lambing to identify the weight before lambing. The weights of the new natal lambs were taken immediate after parturition and before suckling milk and then weekly basis. Weight of the ewes was also taken at 06 hours after parturition i.e. after expelling placenta. Milk Yield Measurement- Milk yield (MY) of ewes were estimated by using the Peart method that is, weighing of the lambs before and after suckling and removal of residual milk by hand. Briefly, MY of ewes were measured over a total of 24 hrs period and repeated over the lactation period. On the day of measurement lambs were removed at 20.00 hrs, and weighted (M₁) at 7.00 h next morning and allowed lambs for 45 min to obtain milk, weighted again (M₂) and the differences between M₂ and M₁ assume to be amount of milk consumed. There was no residual milk after suckling of lambs. The procedure repeated on the same day at 20.00 hrs to measured MY for the other half of the day. The sums of two suckling yields measurements were assumed to be milk yield over 24 hr periods. The single weekly estimate of MY was assumed to be representing the average MY for the week in which it was measured. Chemical Analysis of Experimental Diets- Chemical compositions of the experimental diets are presented. Dry matter content of the feed was determined by drying the samples at 105^oC overnight, while ash was measured by burning further at 600^oC for 4 hours. Dried samples were ground and passed through a 1 mm sieve before analysis. The CP content was determined using the Kjeldahl method. The neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) composition were analyzed using the method described by Goering and Van Soest.

Source of Information: Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Vol. 5, No. 2, 2017, pp. 33-38.

Article Link (Online Journal): doi: 10.11648/j.avs.20170502.12

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The pre and post-natal nutrition of significantly affect all the weight traits of ewes from late pregnancy to lactation. Litter size not affect any weight traits of ewes expect weight gain before lambing. The LWR significantly increases in T₂ treatment group. DM intake also significantly improved in treatment groups compare to control group. MY significantly increases with increasing level of nutrition. Although, the BW, WW and DG of lambs not differ significantly among the treatment groups but numerically higher values observed in T₂ treatment group for all these traits that would be expected to improve subsequent weight at slaughter age and profitability. Thus, it can be concluded that ad libitum green grass and a concentrate mixture at 1.5% of their live weight containing 18% CP and 12 MJ ME/kg DM would be a suitable feeding regime during last stage of pregnancy to lactation to obtain optimum production from native Bengal ewes and their lambs.

Knowledge Management: Journal