Using lupins and the ram effect to improve reproductive performance in Merino ewes in southern Australia

•Ovulation rate and lamb survival are key to improving reproductive performance.•Short-term lupin feeding with synchronised estrus (ram effect) improves ovulation.•Variation in lupin response dependent on nutrition months prior to ovulation.•Lupin feeding with synchronised lambing (ram-effect) impro...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Livestock science 2024-02, Vol.280, p.105415, Article 105415
Main Authors: Nottle, Mark B., Kleemann, David O.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Lamb survival
Lupins
Nutrition
Ovulation rate
Ram effect
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Summary:•Ovulation rate and lamb survival are key to improving reproductive performance.•Short-term lupin feeding with synchronised estrus (ram effect) improves ovulation.•Variation in lupin response dependent on nutrition months prior to ovulation.•Lupin feeding with synchronised lambing (ram-effect) improves lamb survival.•Can a combined mating and lambing strategy give additive increases in weaning rate? The ability of lupins to increase ovulation rate in Merino ewes in as little as four days continues to interest researchers and producers alike. This review summarises work undertaken by us over several years aimed at adapting this response to improving on farm reproductive performance using the ram effect to minimise the number of days required for supplementation in Merino ewes mated in late spring/early summer in southern Australia. The results from these experiments showed that lupin feeding could increase ovulation rate as well as improve lamb survival. The unanswered question is whether combining both mating and lambing strategies can result in additive increases in weaning percentages of upwards of 20 %.
ISSN:1871-1413
1878-0490
DOI:10.1016/j.livsci.2024.105415