The effect of castration and ewe proximity on the behaviour, growth, carcass composition and meat quality of male lambs reared outdoors

Autor: Jennifer M.L. Anderson, G. M. Webster
Rok vydání: 1996
Předmět:
Zdroj: Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science. 1996:166-166
ISSN: 1752-7570
1752-7562
DOI: 10.1017/s0308229600031329
Popis: This trial sought to increase the knowledge of the changes in the endocrine status of male sheep as they mature, and to link this with sexual and agonistic behaviour when they are reared in the presence or absence of females from weaning.80 twin-reared Suffolk x Mule lambs were selected at birth. 32 of the male lambs were castrated (C) and 32 were left entire (E); there were 16 female lambs (F). The ewes were stocked at a rate of 20 ewes per hectare. The lambs were weaned at 12 weeks of age in late June, when they were separated into two groups. The first group (+F) comprised 16 entire males, 16 castrated males and 16 females that were run together until the end of July. Thereafter, raddled vasectomized rams were run with the ewe lambs to show when the first oestrous cycles occurred.
Databáze: OpenAIRE