Natural factors affecting puberty and reproductive performance in ewe lambs: A reviewFacteurs naturels influençant la puberté et les performances de reproduction des agnelles: revue bibliographiqueEinwirkung von umweltfaktoren auf die Pubertät und die reproduktionsleistung bei weiblichen lämmern: ein ubersichtsreferat

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Abstract

In this paper information has been summarized on natural factors affecting sexual development in the ewe. Considerable differences exist both between and within breeds of sheep in the age and body weight at puberty. Genetic as well as environmental factors, and the interaction between these, clearly affect sexual development. Of the environmental factors, the plane of nutrition during rearing and the time of birth appear to be of the greatest importance. Generally, faster growth is associated with enhanced reproductive performance in ewe lambs, i.e. earlier attainment of puberty, more intense oestrous activity and higher conception and lambing rates when mated. However, compared with mature ewes, the young females normally express lower reproductive efficiency. The potential contribution of the ewe lamb should be considered in relation to methods of improving the lifetime productivity of the ewe.

Résumé

Dans ce texte, on a résumé les informations sur les facteurs naturels qui agissent sur le développement sexuel de la brebis. Il existe des différences considérables à la fois entres les races ovines et à l'intérieur de chaque race, quant à l'âge et au poids vif à la puberté. Le développement sexuel est nettement influencé par des facteurs génétiques et des facteurs du milieu et par leurs interactions. Parmi les facteurs du millieu, l'intensité de l'alimentation et la date de naissance sont apparemment de la plus grande importance. Généralement, une croissance rapide est associée à une augmentation des performances de reproduction des agnelles, c'est-à-dire une plus grande précocité sexuelle, une activité d'oestrus plus intense et aussi des taux de conception et de fécondité plus éléves chez agnelles saillies. Cependant, les agnelles ont d'habitude une efficacité de reproduction moins grande que les brebis adultes. La contribution potentielle de l'agnelle devrait être considérée par rapport aux méthodes d'amélioration de la productivité totale pendant la vie de la brebis.

Zusammenfassung

In diesem Referat wurden die Informationen über die Einwirkung von Umweltfaktoren auf die sexuelle Entwicklung beim Mutterschaf zusammengetragen. Es gibt beträchtliche Unterschiede sowohl zwischen als auch innerhalb Schafrassen in Bezug auf das Alter und Lebendgewicht beim Auftreten der Pubertät. Genetische sowie milieubedingte Faktoren, als auch ihr Zusammenspiel, wirken deutlich auf die sexuelle Entwicklung ein. Die Ernährung während der Aufzucht sowie der Geburtszeitpunkt scheinen die wichtigsten milieubedingten Faktoren zu sein.

Schnelles Wachtum ist im allgemeinen mit einer Erhöhung der Reproduktionsleistung der weiblichen Lämmer verbunden, und hier besonders mit einer früheren Pubertät, einer intensiveren Brunstaktivität, sowie erhöhten Konzeptions- und Ablammraten sobald diese angepasst worden sind. Die Lämmer erbringen jedoch gewöhnlich eine geringere Fortpflanzungsleistung als ausgewachsene Mutterschafe. Der potentielle Beitrag der Jungschafe sollt, in Bezug auf Methoden zur Verbesserung der Lebensleistung der Mutterschafe, in Betracht gezogen werden.

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      Lastly, it briefly summarises the known long term effects of being born to a ewe lamb on lifetime productivity. Ewe lambs can display shorter less intense oestrus periods (Dyrmundsson, 1973; Edey et al., 1978; McMillan and Parker, 1981; Schick, 2001) and are less likely to seek and stand for the ram in comparison to mature ewes (Dyrmundsson, 1981; Smith and Knight, 1998) which has resulted in them being termed ‘shy’ breeders. This ‘shy’ breeding is illustrated by the results of Allison et al. (1975), who reported that ewe lambs need to be served by the ram on at least three occasions before 100% of ewe lambs actually have semen inside their reproductive tract.

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