Effects of Weaning Age on Production and Economic Performance of Baluchi Ewe and Lamb

Document Type : Ruminant Nutrition

Authors

• Majid Jafari ¹
• Reza Valizadeh ²
• Abbas Ali Naserian ²

¹ Ferdowsi University of Mashhad

² Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

10.22067/ijasr.v10i4.64178

Abstract

Introduction: Early-weaning of lambs could led to improve the efficiency and profitability of Baluchi ewesand lambs in Iranian sheep husbandry. Early weaning of lambs can stimulate growth of gastrointestinal tract,minimize weaning stress and guarantee post-weaning health. However, results on weaning age of lambs varywidely because of the effects of available feeds, feeding management and genotype.Iranian rural and nomadic herders are usually weaning their lambs when the pastures are in good condition.Reducing the duration of suckling lamb can be associated with optimal results, including sales of surplus milk ofewes and helping the herder household’s economy and entering the early weaned lambs into the feedlot systemsand breed the ewes in a well-controlled condition. The aim of this study was to determine the appropriateweaning age of Baluchi lambs to achieve the better production and economic performances as well as the higherewe's reproductive efficiency.Materials and Methods: Thirty monoparous Baluchi ewes in their second lambing with an average bodyweight of 47± 0.5 (Kg) and their lambs (15 males and 15 females with an average birth weight of 4.5 ± 0.05 Kg)were allocated to the experimental groups randomly. The lambs were left with their mothers for 3 days, in orderto consume adequate colostrum and then were divided into 3 groups according to their gender (5 males and 5females in each group) and kept in individual boxes. The experimental ewes were also kept separately inindividual boxes. These lambs were allowed to be with their mothers twice a day for 2 hours. Lambs had freeaccess to water and TMR ration including 10% Alfalfa leaves and 90% concentrate. Ewes also had free access towater and a TMR ration containing 65% alfalfa hay and 35% concentrate. The respective lambs were weaned atages of 4, 8 and 12 weeks, abruptly and fed with the above noted TMR ration. The birth weight of each lamb andthe weight of ewes were recorded at birth and until the end of the test weekly, each of the ewes and lambs wereweighed individually before morning feeding. During the experiment, every two weeks, samples were takenfrom forage, consumed concentrate and existing residues, and their dry matter and nutrient content weredetermined. The average daily weight gain, weight fluctuations, dry matter intake, milk consumption and bloodparameters at age of 12 weeks in lambs, weight fluctuations, dry matter intake at weaning time in ewes andbenefit to cost ratio were measured. Data were analyzed with Proc GLM of SAS (9.1) software in completelyrandomized design.Results and Discussion: Based on the results, early weaning of lambs at age of 4 weeks led to a significant(P<0.05) improvement in average daily weight gain, body weight, dry matter intake, reduction in milkconsumption at the end of week 12 by lambs, and improvement in body weight and dry matter intake at theweaning time by ewes. Also, the daily milk consumption of lambs showed that the production of milk decreasedgradually from the ninth week after lambing. ALP enzyme levels and IGF-1 hormone in serum of lambs weanedat age of 4 weeks were higher in comparison with the other 2 groups. In this experiment, the average cost offeed for lambs weaned at age of 4 weeks was significantly higher than the other two groups, and in the ewes, thisratio was in contrast. On the other hand, the average cost of milk consumed by lambs in the three groups wascompletely reverse the feeds and the differences between groups were significant. The cost of labor was alsosignificant in the groups due to the variability of the number of days. Average weight loss of ewes from lambingto weaning their lambs at age of 4 weeks was significantly lower than the other two groups. The average benefitfrom lamb weight gain in the group weaned at age of 4 weeks was significantly higher than the other two groups.1- PhD Student of Ruminant Nutrition, Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad,Mashhad, Iran.2 and 3- Professor of Ruminant Nutrition, Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad,Mashhad, Iran.(*- Corresponding author email: [e-mail])نشریه پژوهشهای علوم دامی ایران435- جلد 10 ، شماره 4، زمستان 1397 ، ص. 447Iranian Journal of Animal Science ResearchVol. 10, No. 4, Winter 2019, p. 435-447اثر سن از شیرگیری بره بر عملکرد تولیدی و اقتصادی میش و بره بلوچی 447Also, the benefit from ewe weight gain from the weaning to mating (2 weeks after weaning) was significantlyhigher in the ewes weaned their lambs at age of 4 weeks than in the other two groups. The benefit to costindicator showed weaning of lambs at age of 4 weeks could be a suitable and economical management practicein rural and nomadic situation in sheep industry.Conclusion: The obtained results revealed that early weaning of lambs (at age of 4 weeks) may be regardedas a method of lambs and ewes' management in Iranian sheep husbandry. Preparing ewes for the next pregnancyand reducing the lambing interval are the noticeable results. The offered feeds can be used efficiently, and ewe'sreadiness for the next pregnancy increased by lowering metabolic stress. Furthermore, according to the benefit tocost ratio indicator, better economical outcome could be resulted.

Keywords

• Early-weaning
• time of weaning
• Body weight
• Blood parameters
• benefit to cost ratio

20.1001.1.20083106.1397.10.4.1.0

---

References

Álvarez-Rodriguez, J., A. Sanz, R. Ripoll-Bosch, and M. Joy. 2010. Do alfalfa grazing and lactation length affect

the digestive tract fill of light lambs? Small Ruminant Research, 94:109-116.

2. Barker-Neef, J. M., D. D Buskirk, J. R. Black, M. E. Doumit, and S. R Rust. 2001. Biological and economic

performance of early-weaned Angus steers. Journal of Animal Science, 79:2762-2769.

3. Blanco, M., D. Villalba, G. Ripoll, H. Sauerwein, and I. Casasús. 2009. Effects of early weaning and breed on calf

performance and carcass and meat quality in autumn-born bull calves. Livestock Science, 120:103-115.

4. Boland, H. T., G. Scaglia PAS., W. S. Swecker Jr, and N. C. Burke. 2008. Effects of alternate weaning age on

behavior, blood metabolites, and performance of beef calves. The Professional Animal Scientist, 24:539-551.

5. Chai, J., Q. Diao, H. Wang, Y. Tu, X. Tao, and N. Zhang. 2015. Effects of weaning age on growth, nutrient

digestibility and metabolism, and serum parameters in Hu lambs. Animal Nutrition Journal, 1(4):344-348.

6. Cieślak, M., N. Chmielewska, K. Romanowicz, J. Młynarczuk, and M. Wańkowska. 2015. Sex-dependent

differences in the effect of early weaning on the chosen hormones secretion in sheep during the postnatal transition

to puberty– Preliminary results. Polish Journal of Veterinary Sciences, 18(1):71-78.

7. Corner-Thomas, R. A., R. E. Hickson., S. T. Morris, and P. R. Kenyon. 2014. The influences of live weight and

body condition score of ewe lambs from breeding to lambing on the live weight of their singleton lambs to

weaning. Small Ruminant Research, 119:16-21.

8. Danso, A. S., P. Morel, P. R. Kenyon, and H. T. Blair. 2014. Effect of early life diet on lamb growth and organ

development. Pages 205-208 in Proc. New Zealand Society of Animal Production, Napier.

9. Ekiz, B., E. Ekiz, H. Yalcintan, O. Kocak, and A. Yilmaz. 2012. Effects of suckling length (45, 75 and 120d) and

rearing type on cortisol level, carcass and meat quality characteristics in Kivircik lambs. Meat Science, 92:53-61.

10. Emsen, E., M. Yaprak, O. C. Bilgin, B. Emsen, and H. W. Ockerman. 2004. Growth performance of Awassi lambs

fed calf milk replacer. Small Ruminant Research, 53:99-102.

11. Eri, S., F. Samadi, and S. Hasani. 2014. Study of interrelationship between blood serum concentrations of estrogen,

progesterone, urea nitrogen, glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride with some postpartum reproductive parameters in

dairy cows. Animal Science Researches, 24(2): 73-82. (In Persian).

12. Esmaeili-Zadeh, A., S. R. Miraei-Ashtiani, and M. Akbari Gharaei. 2004. Effects of ewe live weight and body

condition at mating on fertility and lambing season of Kurdy sheep in extensive production system. Pajouhesh &

Sazandegi, 61:8-16. (In Persian).

13. Galvani D. B., C. C. Pires, C. H. Hübner, S. Carvalho, and T. P. Wommer. 2014. Growth performance and carcass

traits of early-weaned lambs as affected by the nutritional regimen of lactating ewes. Small Ruminant Research,

120:1-5.

14. Ghorbani, G. R., R. Kowsar, M. Alikhani, and A. Nikkhah. 2007. Soymilk as a novel milk replacer to stimulate

early calf starter intake and reduce weaning age and costs. Journal of Dairy Science, 90:5692-5697.

اثر سن از شیرگیری بره بر عملکرد تولیدی و اقتصادی میش و بره بلوچی 445

15. Hoffman, M. L., M. A. Rokosa, S. A. Zinn, T. A. Hoagland, and K. E. Govoni. 2014. Poor maternal nutrition

during gestation in sheep reduces circulating concentrations of insulin-like growth factor-I and insulin-like growth

factor binding protein-3 in offspring. Domestic Animal Endocrinology, 49:39-48.

16. Karami, M. and M. Talebi. 2007. Effect of weaning period on carcass characteristics of Lori- Bakhtiari lambs.

Pajouhesh & Sazandegi, 73:21-29. (In Persian).

17. Knightsa, M., I. Siewa, R. Ramgattiea, D. Singh-Knightsb, and G. Bournec. 2012. Effect of Period of weaning on

the reproductive performance of Barbados Blackbelly ewes and lamb growth reared in the tropics. Journal of Small

Ruminant Research, 103:205-210.

18. Lama, S., D. Grilli, V. Egea, M. Fucili, L. Allegretti, and J. C. Guevara. 2014. Rumen development and blood

metabolites of Criollo kids under two different rearing systems. Livestock Science, 167:171-177.

19. Lambertz, C., P. R. Bowen, G. Erhardt, and M. Gauly. 2015. Effects of weaning beef cattle in two stages or by

abrupt separation on nasal abrasions, behavior, and weight gain. Animal Production Science, 55(6):786-792.

20. Ministry of Agriculture Jihad. 2015. Database of livestock statistics.

21. Mohammadi, H., M. Moradi Shahrbabak, and H. Moradi Shahrbabak. 2013. Estimation of (co)variance component

and genetic parameters for total weight of lamb weaned per ewe joined in Zandi sheep. Journal of Livestock

Research, 1(1):49-58. (In Persian).

22. NRC. 1985. Nutrient Requirement of Sheep. National Academy Press Washington, D. C.

23. Paez Lama. S., D. Grilli, V. Egea, M. Fucili, L. Allegretti, J. C. Guevara. 2014. Rumen development and blood

metabolites of Criollo kids under two different rearing systems. Livestock Science, 167:171-177.

24. Simeonov, M. 2013. Effect of different Ages of early weaning of lambs of dairy breeds and systems for feeding

them. Ph.D Thesis. Institute of Forage Crops, Pleven., Bulgaria.

25. Simitzis, P., Petrou, M., Demiris, N., and Deligeorgis, S. 2012. Effect of pre-weaning temporary isolation within

different age periods on the early post-weaning behavior of juvenile lambs. Applied Animal Behavior Science,

141:43-48.

26. Smeaton, D. C., R. M. W. Sumner, T. W. Knight, and T. K. Wadams. 2012. Effects of Period of weaning, pasture

allowance, and shearing Period on ewe and lamb live weight, wool growth, and subsequent ovulation rate of the

ewe. New Zealand Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 11:41-45.

27. Travis Mulliniks, J., R. C. Waterman, and T. W Geary. 2013. Economics of early weaning in northern Great Plains

beef cattle production system. Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 4(5):219-223.

28. Valizadeh, R. 2011. Sheep and Goat Production. Ferdowsi University of Mashhad press. (In Persian).

29. Waterman, R. C., T. W. Geary, J. A. Paterson, and R. J. Lipsey. 2012. Early weaning in the Northern Great Plains

beef cattle production systems: I. Performance and reproductive response in range beef cows. Livestock Science,

148:26-36.

30. Zhong, R. Z., H. X. Sun, G. D. Li, H. W. Liu, and D. W. Zhou. 2014. Effects of inoculation with rumen fluid on

nutrient digestibility, growth performance and rumen fermentation of early weaned lambs. Livestock Science,

162:154-158.