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Effects of pasture management and supplementation on the productive performance of recently lambed ewes

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Abstract

The hypothesis was tested that the performance of lactating ewes is affected by the supplementation level and pasture management. Two supplementation levels (0.5 and 1.0% of body weight, BW) and two pasture managements (mowed and non-mowed) were tested. Forty adult ewes (2 years old) with an average weight at lambing of 62.97 ± 7.0 kg (day 0) and an average the body condition score of 2.5 points (day 0) were evaluated. Verminosis was monitored with periodic deworming. The number of eggs per gram of feces (EPG) of ewes at lambing was used as a covariate for performance assessments. Ewes lost an average of 7.5 kg over the 90 days post-partum (12% BW). The weaning rate was 53%. The body condition of the ewes was influenced by the post-partum period. The ewes mobilized their body reserves in the first 30 days of lactation. Mowing management negatively affected the nutritive value of the forage. Supplementation with 0.5% BW was sufficient for nutritional management post-partum. Pasture management (mowed vs. not mowed) cannot prevent post-partum weight loss. Supplementation levels and pasture management altered the morphological and chemical components of the pasture.

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Acknowledgements

To the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS), the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES), the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), and the Foundation to Support the Development of Education, Science, and Technology of the State of Mato Grosso do Sul (FUNDECT) for the support provided to carry out this research.

Funding

Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS), Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES), National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), and the Foundation to Support the Development of Education, Science, and Technology of the State of Mato Grosso do Sul (FUNDECT).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science of the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS), Av. Senador Filinto Muller, 2443. Vila Ipiranga, Campo Grande, MS, CEP 79070-900, Brazil

    Thais Fernanda Farias de Souza Arco, Camila Celeste Brandão Ferreira Ítavo, Luís Carlos Vinhas Ítavo, Fernando de Almeida Borges, Vanessa Zirondi Longhini, Evelyn Silva de Melo Soares, Dyego Gonçalves Lino Borges, Aline Aparecida da Silva Miguel, Camila de Godoy, Priscila Bernardo de Andrade & Gleice Kelli Ayardes de Melo

  2. Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FAMEZ), Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS), Av. Senador Filinto Müller, 2443. Cidade Universitária, Campo Grande, MS, 79070-900, Brazil

    Luís Carlos Vinhas Ítavo

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Contributions

Concept and elaboration of the manuscript by T.F.F.S.A., C.C.B.F.I., and L.C.V.I. Analysis of data and results, and review of the manuscript by F.A.B., V.Z.L., D.G.L.B., and G.K.A.M. Execution of the study, sample collection, and laboratory analysis by E.S.M.S., A.A.S.M., C.G., and P.B.A.

The reading and approval of the manuscript were carried out by all authors.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Luís Carlos Vinhas Ítavo.

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The methods used in the study were approved through protocol no.862/2017 (CEUA-UFMS).

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Farias de Souza Arco, T.F., Brandão Ferreira Ítavo, C.C., Vinhas Ítavo, L.C. et al. Effects of pasture management and supplementation on the productive performance of recently lambed ewes. Trop Anim Health Prod 56, 110 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-024-03954-8

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