<b>Perfomance of female Bergamasca lambs submitted to two artificial weaning systems</b> - doi: 10.4025/actascianimsci.v32i3.7359

Abstract

This study used 26 Bergamasca ewe lambs weaned at 60 days of age and separated into 2 groups – Artificial suckling: 10 ewes separated from their dams 48 hours after delivery and fed with cow’s milk; Controlled suckling: 16 ewe lambs remained with their dams at pasture during the day and then separated at night, returning after morning milking. Following weaning, both groups were confined until they reached 38.6 kg average weight, and then separated into two types of treatment: Pasture rearing: 5 ewes from artificial suckling + 8 ewes from controlled suckling; Confined rearing: 5 ewes from artificial suckling + 8 ewes from controlled suckling. The experimental design was a 2 x 2 factorial, randomized. Average daily milk production for artificial suckling (0.318 kg) was higher than controlled suckling (0.256 kg). The economic return of the controlled suckling treatment was 8.13% higher than for artificial suckling. With regard to the pasture rearing and confined rearing treatment systems, there was no estrus for pasture rearing during experimental period. There was no difference between the weaning systems with regard to eggs per gram. The weaning system influenced the milk production of primiparous females.