Comparison of the survival of fertilized eggs from adult ewes in the uteri of adult ewes and ewe lambs

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Abstract
Fertilized eggs, obtained from mature donor ewes, were transferred into the uteri of adult ewes and ewe lambs (1 or 2 eggs per recipient). The survival rate to term of the transferred eggs was similar in the 2 classes of recipients. The percentage of adult ewe and ewe lamb recipients which gave birth to twins was 45.3 and 41.1, respectively. Gestation length was shorter (P < 0.01) and lamb birth weight lower (P < 0.01) for ewe lamb recipients. Evidently, the generally lower lambing rate of ewe lambs compared to adults is unlikely to be due to unfavorable uterine conditions.