Foetal programming in sheep – Effects on production

Kenyon, P. R.; Ht, Blair

doi:10.1016/j.smallrumres.2013.12.021

Cited by 75 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 119 publications

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“…There was a sizeable correlation (R = 0.996, P < 0.0001) between ewes' parity and ewes' age. Therefore, ewe parity was used instead of ewe age (Kenyon and Blair, 2014). Fertility rate, fecundity, return rate, incidence of dystocia and litter size (prolificacy) were assessed by χ 2 test.…”

Section: Statistical Analysesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Body condition status at mating affects gestation length, offspring yield and return rate in ewes

2018

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Abstract. The present study was planned to determine the effect of ewe body condition score (BCS) and parities on fertility, return rate, gestation length, fecundity, litter size and lamb birth weight. Data were collected from 284 heads of ewes with first to fifth parity and raised at a state farm for three consecutive (2002)(2003)(2004) years. Teaser rams were used to monitor estrus twice daily in the morning and in the evening from September to October. BCSs and body weights (BWs) were recorded at mating and postpartum. The ewes, at mating time in breeding season and within first 6 h after the expulsion of fetal membranes, were divided into four groups on the basis of their BCS: thin (BCS = ≤ 2.0; n = 70; 38), medium (BCS = 2.5-3.0; n = 122; 142), fat (BCS = 3.5-4.0; n = 72; 59) and very fat (BCS = ≥ 4.5; n = 20;17). BCSs and BWs of ewes at postpartum were highly correlated with lamb birth weight (R = 0.486, P < 0.01, and R = 0.130, P < 0.05, respectively). BCSs and BWs of ewes at postpartum had positive effects on lamb birth weight (Y = 3.43 ± 0.10 + 0.130 + 0.047 ewe body condition score (EBCS), P < 0.01; Y = 2.92 ± 0.42 + 0.018 ± 0.009 ewe body weight (EBW), P < 0.05 kg of lamb birth weight per BCS and kilogram of ewe live weight, respectively). The fertility rate, litter size and fecundity were higher in the medium and fat groups than thin and very fat groups (χ 2 = 10.607, P < 0.01). The BW and BCS at postpartum affected gestation length positively (P < 0.05). Return rate or number of coitus for conception were higher (P < 0.05) in thin and very fat groups than medium and fat groups. The data revealed that the ewes with medium and fat body condition (BCS = 2.5-4.0) scores were profitable.

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Section: Statistical Analysesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Body condition status at mating affects gestation length, offspring yield and return rate in ewes

2018

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“…given serious consideration (Kenyon and Blair, 2014). Although previous studies have investigated the effects of gestational nutrition on fetal development (Kenyon et al, 2009(Kenyon et al, , 2011aBlair et al, 2011), this study focused on assessing offspring performance after individual ewe feeding, where daily feed intake of the ewe, as opposed to group feeding, was monitored, thus allowing for a more accurate individual energy intake calculation on a daily basis.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…External factors influencing in utero and early life development of the fetus have long lasting effects on the animal's health, specifically their response to internal parasites and immune development and productivity in later life (Barker et al, 2002;Kenyon and Blair, 2014). The in utero environment experienced by the fetus, from the earliest stages of gestation, has been shown to impact fetal skeletal development, male and female reproductive function, and ABSTRACT: The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of offering Belclare X ewes a single diet rationed to 80, 100, or 120% of recommended ME requirements from d 119 of gestation to parturition, with concurrent changes in other dietary nutrients.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Maternal size, nutrition, and litter size are 3 of the primary extrinsic factors influencing the developing fetus and subsequent neonatal performance (Kenyon and Blair, 2014). Studies have reported that altering the level of maternal nutrition up to d 130 of gestation can affect fetal growth, influencing birth weight (Caton et al, 2009) and postnatal growth (Kenyon et al, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Altering ewe nutrition in late gestation: II. The impact on fetal development and offspring performance1

McGovern

Campion

Sweeney

et al. 2015

Journal of Animal Science

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“…Level of maternal nutrition during gestation not only affects nutrient and hormone concentrations in blood (Picciano, 2003;Rumball et al, 2009) but can also change intrauterine micro-environment with its effects on placental-fetal development (Sen et al, 2013) and thereby may influence subsequent development, health and productivity of the offspring (Wu et al, 2006;Kenyon and Blair 2014;Sen et al, 2015). It is known that nutritional status of ewes around the mating period alters ovarian activity and lambing rates after mating in many sheep breeds (Lassoued et al, 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of maternal nutrition level during the periconception period on fetal muscle development and plasma hormone concentrations in sheep

Şen

Şirin

Yıldız

et al. 2016

Animal

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The effect of maternal nutrition level during the periconception period on the muscle development of fetus and maternal-fetal plasma hormone concentrations in sheep were examined. Estrus was synchronized in 55 Karayaka ewes and were either fed ad libitum (well-fed, WF, n = 23) or 0.5 × maintenance (under-fed, UF, n = 32) 6 days before and 7 days after mating. Non-pregnant ewes (WF, n = 13; UF, n = 24) and ewes carrying twins (WF, n = 1) and female (WF, n = 1; UF, n = 3) fetuses were removed from the experiment. The singleton male fetuses from well-fed (n = 8) and under-fed (n = 5) ewes were collected on day 90 of gestation and placental characteristics, fetal BWs and dimensions, fetal organs and muscles weights were recorded. Maternal (on day 7 after mating) and fetal (on day 90 of pregnancy) blood samples were collected to analyze plasma hormone concentrations. Placental characteristics, BW and dimensions, organs and muscles weights of fetuses were not affected by maternal feed intake during the periconception period. Maternal nutrition level did not affect fiber numbers and the muscle cross-sectional area of the fetal longissimus dorsi (LD), semitendinosus (ST) muscles, but the cross-sectional area of the secondary fibers in the fetal LD and ST muscles from the UF ewes were higher than those from the WF ewes ( P < 0.05). Also, the ratio of secondary to primary fibers in the ST muscle were tended to be lower in the fetuses from the UF ewes ( P = 0.07). Maternal nutrition level during the periconception period did not cause any significant changes in fetal plasma insulin and maternal and fetal plasma IGF-I, cortisol, progesterone, free T3 and T4 concentrations. However, maternal cortisol concentrations were lower while insulin concentrations were higher in the WF ewes than those in the UF ewes ( P < 0.05). These results indicate that the reduced maternal feed intake during the periconception period may alter muscle fiber diameter without affecting fiber types, fetal weights and organ developments and plasma hormone concentrations in the fetus.

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Foetal programming in sheep – Effects on production

Cited by 75 publications

References 119 publications

Body condition status at mating affects gestation length, offspring yield and return rate in ewes

Body condition status at mating affects gestation length, offspring yield and return rate in ewes

Altering ewe nutrition in late gestation: II. The impact on fetal development and offspring performance1

The effect of maternal nutrition level during the periconception period on fetal muscle development and plasma hormone concentrations in sheep

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