Effects of differential ewe condition at mating and early postmating nutrition on embryo survival. 1991

K S West, and H H Meyer, and M Nawaz
Dept. of Anim. Sci., Oregon State University, Corvallis 97331.

Ewes in two trials were given either a high (H) or a low (L) level of premating nutrition for 19 wk followed by 6 wk of either H or L postmating nutrition to examine effects on reproductive performance. Trial 1 ewes were 5- to 8-yr-old Polypays and Trial 2 ewes were 3-yr-old Polypay and Coopworth x Polypay crosses. Ewes given L nutrition premating were either immunized with androstenedione-7-carboxyethylthioether:human serum albumin (also known as ovandrotone or Fecundin) in (diethylamino)ethyl-dextran adjuvant (Trial 1) or flushed for 3 wk premating (Trials 1 and 2) to enhance ovulation rates. All ewes were synchronized for mating in both trials. Trial 1 premating treatments created a difference of 10 kg in BW and 1.1 in condition score units between H and L ewes preflushing; flushing halved the BW difference. Ovulation rates averaged 2.58 and were similar for H, L-flushed, and L-immunized (LI) ewes; however, both conception rate and litter size were lowest for immunized ewes. Among both twin and triple-ovulating ewes, highest mean litter size was produced by H ewes, followed in order by L and LI ewes. High postmating nutrition increased BW by 6 kg vs slight weight loss in L ewes, but postmating treatments did not affect litter size of either twin or triple ovulators. The H and L premating groups of Trial 2 differed by 18 kg and 2.2 condition score units preflushing. The H ewes exhibited higher ovulation rates (overall mean = 2.63) but lower conception than the L ewes to synchronized estrus. Litter size averaged 2.15 for H ewes vs 1.82 for L ewes. Among both twin and triple ovulators, L ewes produced fewer lambs than H ewes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008098 Litter Size The number of offspring produced at one birth by a viviparous animal. Litter Sizes,Size, Litter,Sizes, Litter
D009752 Nutritional Status State of the body in relation to the consumption and utilization of nutrients. Nutrition Status,Status, Nutrition,Status, Nutritional
D010060 Ovulation The discharge of an OVUM from a rupturing follicle in the OVARY. Ovulations
D011247 Pregnancy The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH. Gestation,Pregnancies
D011897 Random Allocation A process involving chance used in therapeutic trials or other research endeavor for allocating experimental subjects, human or animal, between treatment and control groups, or among treatment groups. It may also apply to experiments on inanimate objects. Randomization,Allocation, Random
D001835 Body Weight The mass or quantity of heaviness of an individual. It is expressed by units of pounds or kilograms. Body Weights,Weight, Body,Weights, Body
D004973 Estrus Synchronization Occurrence or induction of ESTRUS in all of the females in a group at the same time, applies only to non-primate mammals with ESTROUS CYCLE. Estrus Synchronizations,Synchronization, Estrus,Synchronizations, Estrus
D005260 Female Females
D005306 Fertilization The fusion of a spermatozoon (SPERMATOZOA) with an OVUM thus resulting in the formation of a ZYGOTE. Conception,Fertilization, Delayed,Fertilization, Polyspermic,Conceptions,Delayed Fertilization,Delayed Fertilizations,Fertilizations,Fertilizations, Delayed,Fertilizations, Polyspermic,Polyspermic Fertilization,Polyspermic Fertilizations
D005838 Genotype The genetic constitution of the individual, comprising the ALLELES present at each GENETIC LOCUS. Genogroup,Genogroups,Genotypes

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