The Effect of the BCS and the Age of Hungarian Merino Ewes During Pregnancy on Reproduction
2023
Gráff Myrtill | Violetta Tóth | Edit Mikó
In research, we looked for the answer to how the number of offspring is affected by the BCS of ewes at mating, during pregnancy and at lambing and the age of the ewes. We examined body condition scoring (on a 5-point scale) on 60 Hungarian Merino ewes from the beginning of the breeding season until lambing. The BCS values (2.29) of triple lambed ewes were significantly higher compared to the condition score of one- and two lambed ewes (1.55, 1.58). Two-year-old ewes gave birth to 1.84 offspring on average, this value only slightly decreased until 3-5 years of age. The number of offspring of 6-year-old animals was the highest (2.13). The old (7-8 years old) ewes gave birth to only one offspring, their condition was low both at fertilization (1.55) and at lambing (3.18) compared to those that gave birth to more. The average condition of ewes during pregnancy was significantly higher for animals that gave birth to two or three litters (2.12; 2.20) than for animals that gave birth to one (1.58).). In the relationship between body condition and number of offspring, there was a loose, positive correlation, both at fertilization (r=0.206) and at lambing (r=0.265). In summary, we can declare that the ideal BCS at mating age condition is 3,5, for multiple twins and the ideal age for ewes is 2-6 years, in the case of Hungarian Merino ewes.
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