Abstract

Previous work has shown that, under appropriate circumstances, mid-pregnancy shearing results in an increase of both the birth and weaning weights of multiple-born lambs. However, the physiological mechanisms for this response are poorly understood. This paper attempts to clarify the link between mid-pregnancy shearing and heavier lamb weights by investigating the metabolic changes that occur in ewes that are shorn in mid-pregnancy. Twenty-four twin-bearing ewes were assigned to one of two treatment groups; mid-pregnancy shorn (70 days after the mid-point of mating: P70) or unshorn. Groups were balanced for ewe age and weight. Blood samples were collected from all animals on days P53, P69, P81, P84, P90, P109 and P130, for measurement of concentrations of triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), cortisol, glucose, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and beta-hydroxybutyrate. Lamb birth weight, girth and crown-rump length (CRL) measurements were collected within 24 hrs of birth. Lambs were weighed at weaning. Mid-pregnancy shearing increased lamb birth weights and girths by 0.43 kg (P<0.05) and 2.18 cm (P<0.05) respectively although these differences were not significant once adjusted for date of birth. There was no effect on CRL. Plasma concentrations of T3 and T4 were significantly higher in mid-pregnancy-shorn ewes relative to unshorn ewes at both P81 (P<0.01) and P84 (P<0.01 and P<0.05 respectively) and T4 concentrations tended to be higher at P90 (P<0.10). There was a significant effect of shearing treatment at P81 on plasma NEFA concentrations (P<0.05). There were no significant post-shearing differences in mean cortisol, glucose or beta-hydroxybutyrate concentrations. The study proposes that the most likely mechanism by which mid-pregnancy results in higher lamb birth weights is by increasing maternal thyroid hormone concentrations, resulting in an increase in fat mobilisation causing increased NEFA concentrations in the maternal blood supply, which in turn improves placental nutrition and, thus, lamb birth weight.

RG, Sherlock, PR Kenyon, ST Morris, and TJ Parkinson

Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production, Volume 63, Queenstown, 144-148, 2003