Effects of Forced Exercise and Cooling on Reproductive Performance of Finewool Ewes Bred during the Summer

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Abstract
One hundred forty-four finewool ewes of Rambouillet breeding were randomly assigned to one of the following four experimental treatments: forced exercise, shade plus a water sprinkler (2 of 3 years), air conditioned room, or outside ambient temperature. Average rectal temperature and respiration rates were significantly lower in the air conditioned and in the shade-plus-sprinkler groups than in the noncooled group. Exercise also significantly increased rectal temperature and respiration rates in all trials. Forced exercise daily for 30 to 90 min. starting 10 to 3 days prior to breeding until day 3 or day 20 post-mating decreased the percent of fertilized ova (P<.05) in two of three trials and non-significantly lowered percent lambing rate in 2 of 3 years. Ewes cooled at 65° F. had a larger (P<.05) percent lambing rate in two of three trials and a higher (P<.05) percent of fertilized ova 3 days post-breeding in one of three trials than noncooled ewes. Shade plus a water sprinkler also tended to improve reproductive performance, but the difference was significant only for estimated lambing rate in 1 of 2 years. Most of the embryo mortality occurred soon after breeding and was negligible after 3 days post-breeding for all groups except non-cooled control ewes.

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