Sheep production: ewe behaviour and management [fertility and nutrition]. [Workshop paper]
1988
Burnside, D.G. (Western Australian Dept. of Agriculture, Kalgoorlie)
Nutrition is the most important determinant of ewe productivity. The ewe is responsive to nutrition throughout her annual cycle of reproduction. Ewes in good nutrition will mate more readily and more often and as a consequence will have a greater chance of conceiving. Nutrition during pregnancy will determine the degree of wool production lost and will to a major extent decide the fate of the lamb. The key steps in any ewe management programme are: determine the time and place (paddock) for lambing so that the chances of good nutrition are maximized; maintain the number of animals at a level where the environment can best deliver the desired nutrition to the animal; introduce 4 per cent rams for a 3-month joining period; be aware of the possible value of the 'ram effect'; avoid any disturbance of the ewes in the period before and after lambing; and adopt sensible and non-stressful husbandry practices at the other times, and cull old ewes.
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