ORIGINAL PAPER
Feed supplementation of grazing Merino ewes
during mid-pregnancy: effect on changes in body
composition and on the conceptus
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Estación Agricola Experimental, Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC),
Apdo 788, 24080-León, Spain
Publication date: 1999-07-05
J. Anim. Feed Sci. 1999;8(3):395-405
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ABSTRACT
Twenty pregnant Merino ewes grazed a ryegrass pasture and were offered either no supplement
or 500 g/head/day of a concentrate supplement from days 30 to 90 of pregnancy. After that date, all
ewes were supplemented. Maternal carcass and „non-carcass" components, uterine walls, foetus
and placentas plus cotyledons were chemically analysed. At day 90, there was no significant difference between supplemented and non-supplemented animals in the mobilization of body reserves.
However, from day 91 to 140, a significant effect of the previous nutritional regime was observed.
Body condition score on day 30 accounted for most of the fat mobilization from days 30 to 90.
Nevertheless, these mobilizations were not reflected in any significant difference in the birthweight
and chemical composition of the foetus. Merino grazing sheep hence are able to compensate for feed
restriction during mid-pregnancy, through the mobilization of body reserves, avoiding any influence on the foetus.