The influence of the ewes weight on the development of their lamb weights for Merinoland sheep

作者：Schmitt A^*; Brandt H; Erhardt G

来源：Zuchtungskunde, 2011, 83(2): 129-141.

• Lamb birth weight
• weight of ewes
• lamb weight development
• Merino land sheep

The influence of the ewes weight on the development of their lamb weights for Merinoland sheep At the experimental farm of the Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics (Oberer Hardthof) at the Justus-Liebig University of Giessen the weight of 244 lambs and their dams were collected at birth, at an age of 4 and 9 weeks to determine the effect of ewe weight on the lamb weight development. The lambs were descendants of 152 ewes and 9 rams. The influence of type of birth on the lamb weight development proved to be highly significant. Single lambs showed higher weights at birth, at 4 weeks of age and at 9 weeks of age compared to twins and triplets. Twins compared to triplets only showed higher weights at birth and at an age of 4 weeks Between the ewes weight and the lamb weight development no linear relationship was found. Up to the ewes weight class of 100 to 110 kg there is an increase in lamb weight development. The lambs of heavier ewes above 110 kg showed again decreasing weights at an age of 4 and an age of 9 weeks. Under more extensive production systems the optimal ewe weight could be different from the optimum found in this investigation.

• 出版日期2011-4