ABSTRACT

Thirty four lambs and twenty multiparous Morada Nova ewes with 3 ± 1.2 years of age were evaluated in a semi-extensive system for assessments of their suckling activities when they were 10-40 days old. The body mass (kg) and biometric measurements were also assessed at each 15 days from birth to 90 days of age. From 15 to 90 days of age, single lambs had superior (P < 0.05) body mass than those twins. Both for single and twins the daily weight gain substantially decreased (P < 0.05) after thirty days of age. There was a high correlation (i.e., r > 0.90; P < 0.05) between all biometric measurements and body mass of lambs. Both for single and twins the frequency of suckling decreases (P < 0.05) as the lambs grows older. At 20 days, mothers of twin lambs prevented more (P < 0.05) the suckling attempts than those of single lambs. Both for single and twin lambs the suckling success was lower (P < 0.05) when they were 20 days of age. The present study sheds some light on how the dynamics between growth performance of Morada Nova lambs and the maternal investment are linked

摘要

对 34 只羔羊和 20 只 3 ± 1.2 岁的多产 Morada Nova 母羊进行了评估，以评估它们在 10-40 天大时的哺乳活动。从出生到 90 天，每 15 天评估一次体重 (kg) 和生物特征测量值。从 15 到 90 日龄，单只羔羊的体重优于双胞胎（P < 0.05）。单胎和双胞胎的日增重在 30 天后显着下降（P < 0.05）。所有生物特征测量值与羔羊体重之间存在高度相关性（即 r > 0.90；P < 0.05）。无论是单胎还是双胞胎，随着羔羊年龄的增长，哺乳频率都会降低（P < 0.05）。在 20 天时，双胎羔羊的母亲比单胎羔羊的母亲更能阻止（P < 0.05）哺乳尝试。单胎和双胎羔羊在 20 日龄时的哺乳成功率均较低（P < 0.05）。本研究揭示了 Morada Nova 羔羊的生长性能与母体投资之间的动态关系。