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finalreportp MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS Project code: MS.009 Prepared by: Simon K. Walkerª, David. O. Kleemanª and C. Simon Bawdenb South Australia Research and Development Institute, Turretfield Research Centreª, Rosedale SA 5350 and Livestock Systems Allianceb, Roseworthy Campus, Roseworthy SA 5371 Date published: August 2002 ISBN: 1 74036 821 5 Sheep Reproduction in Australia Current Status and Potential for Improvement through Flock Management and Gene Discovery This publication is published by Meat & Livestock Australia Limited ABN 39 081 678 364 (MLA). Care is taken to ensure the accuracy of information in the publication. Reproduction in whole or in part of this publication is prohibited without the prior written consent of MLA. TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE.................................................................................................................1 SUMMARY ...............................................................................................................2 TERMS OF REFERENCE.........................................................................................3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY...........................................................................................4 SECTION 1: REPRODUCTION IN THE EWE – FROM GERM CELLS TO LAMBING CHAPTER 1. REPRODUCTIVE WASTAGE IN AUSTRALIAN SHEEP FLOCKS.16 1.1 INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................16 1.2 OCCURRENCE OF OESTRUS ..............................................................................16 1.3 RESPONSE OF EWES TO THE RAM EFFECT..........................................................17 1.4 OVULATORY PERFORMANCE..............................................................................18 1.5 WASTAGE OF OVA ............................................................................................18 1.5.1 Magnitude of loss ................................................................................................... 18 1.5.2 Fertilisation failure .................................................................................................. 19 1.5.3 Embryo mortality .................................................................................................... 19 1.6 PARTIAL FAILURE OF MULTIPLE OVULATIONS (PFMO) .........................................20 1.7 EWE FERTILITY.................................................................................................20 1.8 SUMMARY ........................................................................................................21 CHAPTER 2. MANAGING THE COMPONENTS OF REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE ....................................................................................................23 2.1 INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................23 2.2 INCIDENCE OF OESTRUS ...................................................................................23 2.3 OVULATION RATE .............................................................................................24 2.3.1 Static effect ............................................................................................................ 24 2.3.2 Dynamic effect ....................................................................................................... 24 2.3.3 High protein supplementation ................................................................................. 25 2.3.4 Benefits of premating supplementation ................................................................... 26 2.4 EMBRYO MORTALITY.........................................................................................27 2.4.1 Post-mating nutrition............................................................................................... 27 2.4.2 Post-mating progesterone levels............................................................................. 27 2.4.3 Other factors influencing embryo mortality .............................................................. 28 2.4.4 Strategies to minimise embryo mortality.................................................................. 29 2.5 FERTILISATION RATE.........................................................................................29 2.6 PARTIAL FAILURE OF MULTIPLE OVULATIONS (PFMO) .........................................30 2.6.1 Causes of PFMO.................................................................................................... 30 2.6.2 Response of PFMO to nutrition............................................................................... 30 2.7 SUMMARY ........................................................................................................31 CHAPTER 3. EFFECTS OF MATERNAL NUTRITION ON THE OOCYTE, EMBRYO AND FETUS ...........................................................................................33 3.1 INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................33 3.2 THE OOCYTE....................................................................................................33 3.2.1 The period of pre-antral follicle development........................................................... 33 3.2.2 Nutrition and pre-antral follicle development ........................................................... 34 3.2.3 Nutrition and antral follicle development.................................................................. 34 3.3 THE EMBRYO....................................................................................................35 3.4 THE POST-IMPLANTATION FETUS........................................................................36 3.5 SUMMARY ........................................................................................................36 CHAPTER 4. FETAL OVARIAN DEVELOPMENT AND LIFETIME PERFORMANCE ....................................................................................................38 4.1 INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................38 4.2 NUTRITION AND GERM CELL NUMBERS IN THE FETAL OVARY ................................38 4.3 THE LAMB AS A SOURCE OF OOCYTES ................................................................39 4.4 NUTRITION IN UTERO AND SUBSEQUENT PERFORMANCE......................................40 4.5 SUMMARY ........................................................................................................40 CHAPTER 5. NUTRITION – THE MASTER REGULATOR OF REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE? ..................................................................................................42 5.1 INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................42 5.2 PHASES OF THE REPRODUCTIVE CYCLE THAT ARE RESPONSIVE TO NUTRITION.... 42 5.3 THE BALANCING ACT BETWEEN DIETARY ENERGY AND PROTEIN ...........................44 5.4 STEROIDS AND METABOLIC SIGNALLING AGENTS.................................................45 5.4.1 Progesterone.......................................................................................................... 45 5.4.2 Gonadotrophins...................................................................................................... 46 5.4.3 Glucose, insulin, growth hormones and IGFs.......................................................... 46 5.4.4 Branched chain amino acids (BCAA)...................................................................... 46 5.4.5 Leptin..................................................................................................................... 47 5.5 SUMMARY ........................................................................................................47 CHAPTER 6. OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINANTS OF REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE ....................................................................................................48 6.1 INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................48 6.2 HEAT STRESS...................................................................................................48 6.2.1 Incidence of oestrus ............................................................................................... 48 6.2.2 Embryo mortality .................................................................................................... 48 6.2.3 Fetal development.................................................................................................. 49 6.2.4 Parturition and lactation.......................................................................................... 49 6.2.5 Variation in response between animals................................................................... 49 6.2.6 Strategies to minimise the effects of heat................................................................ 50 6.3 ENVIRONMENTAL TOXINS ..................................................................................50 6.4 PHYTO-OESTROGENS .......................................................................................51 6.5 SUMMARY ........................................................................................................52 CHAPTER 7. GENETIC AND EPIGENETIC CONTROL OF REPRODUCTION ....54 7.1 INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................54 7.2 GENETIC CONTROL...........................................................................................54 7.2.1 Estimates