An egg transfer study of litter size, birth weight and lamb survival

Abstract

SUMMARY: In an egg-transfer experiment, seven breeds of sheep differing widely in mean mature ewe weight were used: Oxford Down, 96 kg; Borderm Leicester, 77; Finnish Landrace, 55; Southdown, 52; Tasmanian Merino, 42; Welsh Mountain, 34; and Soay, 22. Body weight and gestation length of recipient ewes are briefly examined. Of 60 recipient ewes, 95% became pregnant. Embryo survival averaged 69% and appeared to be independent of breed of embryo. Litter size of Welsh Mountain, Border Leicester and Finnish Landrace ewes each given four eggs averaged 2·6, 2·9 and 2·9 respectively so that most of the normally observed breed differences are mainly due to differences in ovulation rate. Observed birth weights were in general agreement with those predicted from litter size and donor and recipient ewe weights. The maternal capacity of Finnish ewes was close to average. Litter size affected survival mainly through its effect on birth weight. For Oxford lambs in litters of 3 to 5 from Finnish recipients, birth weight was 42% that of normal single-born Oxfords and only 42% survived. For Soays the corresponding values were 59% for birth weight and 85% for survival. Finnish lambs were exceptionally small at birth but had the highest viability of all breeds. Lamb mortality was higher for males (18%) than females (9%) especially in large litters (26 v. 11%) but about the same in both sexes for Finnish lambs.