dc.contributor |
Kenyon, P R |
|
dc.contributor |
Sherlock, R G |
|
dc.contributor |
Morris, S T |
|
dc.contributor |
Morel, P C H |
|
dc.date.accessioned |
2012-03-08T00:39:12Z |
|
dc.date.available |
2012-03-08T00:39:12Z |
|
dc.date.issued |
2006 |
|
dc.identifier.uri |
http://livestocklibrary.com.au/handle/1234/31493 |
|
dc.description.abstract |
Pregnancy shearing of mature ewes has been shown to influence lamb birthweight and sometimes lamb survival to weaning and wool follicle characteristics. However, the effects of shearing hoggets in mid- or late-pregnancy under New Zealand's pastoral conditions have not been examined. This study was designed to determine the effects of mid- and late-pregnancy shearing on lambs born to Romney hoggets. Single-bearing hoggets were either shorn at average day 79 of pregnancy (n�=�74), at average day 119 (n�=�80), or left unshorn (n�=�76) while their twin-bearing counterparts were either shorn at average day 79 of pregnancy (n�=�18) or left unshorn (n�=�12). Mid-pregnancy shearing was found to increase the birthweights of singles (by 0.32�kg, P�<�0.05) in comparison with unshorn ewes; however, this relationship was not observed in twins. Neither mid- nor late-pregnancy shearing affected lamb survival to weaning. Singles born to late-pregnancy shorn ewes had whiter wool (P�<�0.05) in comparison with lambs born to unshorn dams. Dam treatment had no other effects on follicle or wool characteristics. The results of this study indicate that mid-pregnancy shearing of hoggets can be used as a technique to increase birthweight in single lambs but not twin-born lambs. Pregnancy shearing had no effect on lamb survival rates to weaning, whereas shearing in late-pregnancy had minor effects on wool colour that would be unlikely to affect wool value in Romneys. Shearing in mid-pregnancy had no effect on either progeny follicle or wool characteristics. |
|
dc.publisher |
CSIRO |
|
dc.source.uri |
http://www.publish.csiro.au/?act=view_file&file_id=AR05336.pdf |
|
dc.subject |
sheep |
|
dc.subject |
ewe lamb |
|
dc.subject |
yearling ewe |
|
dc.subject |
wool follicle development |
|
dc.title |
The effect of mid- and late-pregnancy shearing of hoggets on lamb birthweight, weaning weight, survival rate, and wool follicle and fibre characteristics |
|
dc.type |
Research |
|
dc.description.version |
Journal article |
|
dc.identifier.volume |
57 |
|
dc.identifier.page |
877-882 |
|
dc.identifier.issue |
8 |
|