Abstract

Two experiments investigated the relationship between growth rate, hogget oestrus and subsequent reproduction. In Experiment 1 there were increases in the proportion of two-tooth ewes ovulating multiples due to high plane rearing from late December to mid July or the presence of hogget oestrus, after the correction of two-tooth pre-mating live weight. None of the four-tooth lambing differences due to rearing or hogget oestrus was significant after correction for two-tooth pre-mating live weight. There were no significant differences due to any factor at the six-tooth lambing. In Experiment 2 there was an increase in the proportion of two-tooth ewes twinning due to the presence of hogget oestrus after correction for two-tooth pre-mating weight. There were significant effects of hogget oestrus on four-tooth twinning rates, before but not after, correction for two-tooth pre-mating live weight. There were no significant effects on twinning at the six-tooth lambing.

HH, Meyer, and JN Clarke

Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production, Volume 42, , 33-36, 1982