Mid-pregnancy shearing can increase birthweight and survival to weaning of multiple-born lambs under commercial conditions

摘要: In several field studies, mid-pregnancy shearing has increased lamb birthweight, which may be associated with an increase in survival. However, animal numbers have been too low these studies to accurately examine any effects on survival rates weaning. This study was designed investigate the effect of birthweight multiple-born lambs and their weaning under commercial farming conditions at 2 different sites. At Riverside, 657 twin- 47 triplet-bearing ewes were either shorn (n = 347) or left unshorn 357). Similarly, Tuapaka, 532 twin-, 60 291) 301). Mid-pregnancy significantly (P<0.05) birthweights each site (by 0.44 0.13 kg Riverside respectively). weights 1.07 kg) 5.5%) but not Tuapaka. These findings show that can and, when response is large enough reduce otherwise lightweight lambs, it