Pre-mating herbage intake and the reproductive performance of north Country Cheviot ewes in different levels of body condition

Over 4 years, a flock of mature North Country Cheviot ewes was grazed on different swards between weaning in August and mid October to achieve a range of condition scores at 5 weeks before mating (post-weaning period). During the subsequent 5 weeks before a synchronized mating (pre-mating period), all ewes were grazed on a perennial ryegrass/white clover sward, provided at high (H) or low (L) herbage masses (1600 to 2100 or 1200 to 1400 kg dry matter (DM) per ha, respectively). Ovulation rate was derived from the number of corpora lutea in 101 ewes slaughtered after first mating. Conception and lambing rates were derived from the number of lambs born to first mating of 406 ewes. In 2 out of the 4 years, 79 ewes were used to estimate herbage intake. There was no effect of post-weaning management on reproductive performance. Herbage intake and reproductive performance were examined in relation to the body condition of the ewes at 5 weeks before mating. On an H herbage mass pre-mating, herbage intake in the period immediately prior to mating was greatest in ewes in low body condition and declined significantly with increasing condition. On an L herbage mass pre-mating, herbage intake did not vary significantly with condition. Ovulation rate was low in ewes in low body condition (scores =≤·25) at 5 weeks before mating, increased significantly with increasing condition up to scores 2·50/2·75 but did not change significantly above such intermediate scores. Conception and lambing rates increased significantly with increasing body condition up to scores 2·50/2·75 and then decreased significantly as condition increased above these levels. These effects of body condition were greater on an L herbage mass pre-mating than they were on an H herbage mass. Ewes in the intermediate body condition scores of 2·50 and 2·75 at 5 weeks before mating had a low sensitivity to contemporary nutrition pre-mating. Such condition levels are therefore considered to be above the range of condition in the North Country Cheviot breed within which reproductive response is affected by contemporary nutrition pre-mating. The lower reproductive performance of ewes in high body condition (scores 3=3·00) at 5 weeks before mating was related to an increase in estimated ova and embryo loss and may be associated with a reduced herbage intake.