Relationship between Preweaning Growth Rate of Female Lambs and the Growth of Their Offspring

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Abstract
Data available from 129 single and 111 twin-reared Dorset x Western replacement ewes were utilized to evaluate the relationship between preweaning ewe lamb nutrition and subsequent estimated milking ability. The 70-day weights of the ewes and their lambs were used as an indication of milk consumption. The relationship was characterized for each age of dam (15, 24, 36, ..., 96 months) by (1) calculating phenotypic correlation coefficients between the 70-day weight of the dams and the 70-day weights of their lambs, and by (2) comparing the mean birth weights and 70-day weights of the lambs born to the single and twin-reared dams at each age. The phenotypic correlation coefficients when the dams were 15, 24, 36,48, 60, 72, 84 and 96 months old were −.13, −.01, −.07, .00, .05, .01, .16 and .28, respectively. The change in correlation coefficients from −.13 for lambs from 15-month-old dams to .28 for 96-month-old dams suggests a possible negative relationship between ewe lamb nutrition and subsequent maternal influence that disappears as the ewe gets older. Copyright © 1975. American Society of Animal Science. Copyright 1975 by American Society of Animal Science.

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