Factors affecting the development and survival of lambs
Keywords:
Nutrition, Parity order, Weaning weight, Reproductive techniques, EwesAbstract
This work aimed to study the placental efficiency of ewes and verify the influence of productive variables on the survival and performance of lambs until the weaning phase. For this, a multiple regression model was created to identify which characteristics influence, and in what proportion, the weight of lambs at weaning. To verify the characteristics that affect the lambs’ survival until weaning, a generalized linear model was elaborated. The statistically significant coefficients (p<0.05) that were maintained in the final model to determine the weaning weight of the lambs were calving order, placental efficiency, females, and males. The fact that the dam was primiparous decreased the weaning weight of the lambs by -3.3747, while one more unit of placental efficiency increased the same variable by 0.01477. Male animals weaned about 1.29kg more than females. Primiparous breeders and placental efficiency decreased the chance of offspring survival by 7.26% and 0.03%, respectively. Each additional female born per birth increased the chance of survival until weaning by 89.27%, while the increase of one male born per birth provided a 70.15% risk. The birth season did not show significance in the models elaborated for weaning weight and pup survival chance until weaning. It is suggested that to guarantee greater productivity and health to the animals present in the herd, their nutritional requirements in all physiological stages must be met, mainly for the ewe lambs in the gestational period.
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