A study was made of reproductive performance in 183 maiden and 218 mature ewes from a single Merino flock either with or without lupin grain supplement {Lupinus angu8tifolius cv. Uniwhite) at 500 g/head/day from 14 days prior to the introduction of the rams until 12 days post coitus. The ewes were grazed either on irrigated perennial pasture or hay fed on a fallow area. Ovulation rates increased (P < 0-01) in ewes which received the supplement. Insemination rates were not affected by the supplement, although embryo survival was reduced (P < 0-05). Feeding the lupin grain supplement did not increase the number of embryos present at days 28-31 post coitus. Ovulation rate and embryo survival were not influenced by diets of irrigated pasture or hay, although insemination rates of ewes tended to be lower when ewes grazed the irrigated pasture rather than hay.
The use of supplements for four weeks beginning one week before joining from February 7 to April 1 was examined in an attempt to increase lambing rates. Four supplements (lupin grain, freshly cut lucerne, wheat, and wheat with 3% urea and sulphur) were fed at four rates (0, 0.1 7, 0.34, and 0.51 kg day-1/ewe) to a flock of 1200 maiden Border Leicester x Merino ewes grazing annual pasture at the Rutherglen Research Station in north-eastern Victoria. For every 0.2 kg of lupin fed per day the liveweights, ovulation rate and lambing rate of ewes increased by 1 kg, 0.06 and 0.03 per ewe joined, respectively. The mean increase in wool growth for ewes fed lupins, wheat, and wheat with urea and sulphur was 39, 26 and 37%, respectively. Feeding of lucerne did not affect any attributes measured. The intake of supplement by ewes fed wheat based supplements at the higher rates appeared to be more variable between ewes than the intake of the ewes on other treatments. This was indicated by the greater variability in liveweight gain of the ewes fed wheat at the higher rates. Results show that of the supplements used, lupins was the only one which if fed at mating in February, could be expected to substantially improve reproduction.
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