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Production of Fine-Wool Ewes on Yearlong Rangeland in West Texas. II. Effects of Supplemental Feed and Breeding Frequency on Reproductive Rate¹

Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, San Angelo 76901

Abstract

Reproductive rate was compared in once-a-year and accelerated lambing ewes given various winter supplemental feed treatments during a 4-yr study. The study involved 165 commercial Rambouillet ewes. The accelerated lambing ewes had a lower attrition rate (P = .20) and final weight (P<.05) and produced more lambs (P<.01), lighter weight lambs at birth (P<.05) and weaning (P<.01), a lower frequency of twins (P<.05) and an equal total weight of weaned lamb (P>.25) compared with once-a-year lambing ewes. Significant effects of feeding were detected only in a higher attrition rate in fed vs control ewes (P<.02) and in a higher twinning frequency in fed vs control ewes (P<.05). It is suggested that attrition rate is positively associated with twinning frequency. Accelerated lambing failed to substantially increase total lamb production, primarily because fall-lambing ewes failed to rebreed for summer lambs in spite of supplemental feed and as a result, continued in a fall lambing pattern.

¹ Technical article TA 17638 from the Texas Agr. Exp. Sta., Texas A&M Univ. System, San Angelo 76901. All programs and information of the Texas Agr. Exp. Sta. are available without regard to race, ethnic origin, religion, sex or age.