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Energy requirements of the pregnant ewe

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

A. J. Russel ,
J. M. Doney  and
R. L. Reid
A. J. Russel
Affiliation:
Hill Farming Research Organisation, Edinburgh
J. M. Doney
Affiliation:
Hill Farming Research Organisation, Edinburgh
R. L. Reid
Affiliation:
Hill Farming Research Organisation, Edinburgh
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Extract

Fifty-one Scottish Blackface ewes were divided into three groups and individually fed throughout the latter half of pregnancy: (I) in excess of their nutrient requirements, (II) to produce a uniformly moderate degree of undernourishment throughout the final 6 weeks of pregnancy, and (III) to produce a uniformly severe degree of undernourishment during the same period.

Marked differences were evident in the amounts of feed required to maintain the prescribed nutritional states, and within the undernourished groups, between ewes with single and twin foetuses. In both groups of undernourished ewes the amount of feed required to maintain the prescribed level of undernourishment during late pregnancy was strongly related (P < 0·001) to birth-weight. The additional nutrient requirement of the ewe in late pregnancy was estimated to be 100 g D.o.m./kg foetus/day.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 68 , Issue 3 , June 1967 , pp. 359 - 363
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1967

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