How to improve ewe reproduction rate? Do a good job of early pregnancy management
Reproduction refers to the physiological process by which organisms produce offspring in order to continue the species, that is, the process by which organisms produce new individuals.So how do you improve the reproduction rate of ewes? How should management be carried out in early pregnancy?
How to improve ewe reproduction rate?
Improving ewe reproduction rate is the key to farms obtaining profit. To improve ewe reproduction rate, you can start from the following aspects.
1. Select rams and ewes with multiple lambs to retain for breeding. Twin lambs or multiple lambs are hereditary. When selecting and retaining breeding rams and ewes, their parents should preferably be selected from reserve flocks in which the previous generation of rams and ewes had more than one twin lamb per litter. These rams and ewes with a good genetic foundation, retained for breeding, can fully exert their genetic potential during rearing and increase the probability of ewes bearing multiple lambs per litter.
2. Sufficient nutrition gives breeding sheep a healthy body condition and moderate fatness. Rams maintain vigorous libido, and at mating the semen has a high sperm count, strong vitality, and high fertilizing ability; strengthening ewe nutrition is an effective measure to improve ewe reproduction rate. When ewes are strong, the fetus develops well, postpartum milk is sufficient, lambs have a higher birth weight, and the survival rate is high. Therefore, the better the ewe's body condition, the greater the lamb weight, and the higher the multiple-lamb rate.
3. Carry out two mating services. When ewes are in estrus, carrying out double mating or two mating services with semen insemination can improve the conception rate and increase the probability of producing twin lambs. Using the two-mating method can keep sperm with fertilizing ability present in the ewe's reproductive tract, increasing the chance of fertilization. A commonly used method: for ewes confirmed to be in estrus, mate and inseminate once each after 12 and 24 hours, generally with an interval of 10-12 hours between the two inseminations.
4. Increase the proportion of young and middle-aged ewes in the flock. Young ewes mating for the first time and old or weak ewes have lower reproductive capacity than prime-aged ewes. Throughout a ewe's life, reproductive rate is strongest at 3-4 years of age, and the reproductive lifespan is generally 8 years. Therefore, in order to improve the overall level of the flock, rationally adjust the flock structure, supplement young ewes in a planned way, appropriately increase the proportion of 3-4-year-old ewes in the flock, and promptly identify and cull old, weak, or low-fertility ewes.
5. Wean lambs early at an appropriate time. Shortening the ewe's nursing time can prompt ewes to come into estrus earlier and achieve more births per year. Early-weaned lambs need to be trained by humans to eat. At 10-15 days of age, feed lambs some fresh tender green grass, vegetable leaves, or fine soft easily digestible dry hay and leaves, so as to stimulate the early formation of the digestive function of the lamb's digestive tract and the transition toward independent feeding by the lambs.
How should ewes be managed in early pregnancy?
1. Generally, in sheep-raising production practice, the ewe pregnancy process is usually roughly divided into three stages. From conception to about one and a half months (45 days) is called early pregnancy; from one and a half months to three months (90 days) is called mid pregnancy; from three months of pregnancy to parturition (about 140 days) is called late pregnancy. Ewes in different stages of pregnancy have different requirements for feeding management and forage. Only by meeting the feeding management methods and forage standards for pregnant ewes at different stages can the healthy development of the fetus and the robust constitution of the ewe be ensured.
2. Whether ewes become pregnant through artificial insemination or natural mating, once pregnancy is confirmed, feeding management should start from six aspects. First, ewes in early pregnancy should be managed in separate groups from other sheep, to facilitate meeting the needs of different sheep. Second, attention should be paid to adjusting drinking time; generally, the drinking time for ewes in early pregnancy should be adjusted to after noon. Third, it is best to provide tap water and well water to the flock, and try to avoid giving sheep river water and snow water, especially water with ice. Fourth, when going out to graze and drive the sheep to exercise, reasonably control the speed of movement to prevent rapid driving and strenuous running. Fifth, human intervention should be used to control the entry and exit of ewes in early pregnancy from the pen, to prevent squeezing and trampling. Sixth, for flocks with grazing conditions, promptly adjust the grazing time, and it is best to graze after the sun rises and the temperature rises.
3. In terms of forage, manage from two aspects. First, promptly increase feed with higher protein content (peas, soybean meal, oilseed meal, etc.) to meet the healthy development of the fetus. Second, promptly increase high-quality dry hay (legume forage), temporarily do not feed or feed less silage, and especially note that feeding frozen and spoiled silage is prohibited. At the same time, in the use of veterinary drugs, try to avoid using drugs with a laxative effect and temporarily avoid using biological products to which sheep have a relatively sensitive bodily reaction.