US salmonella scare
Birth feed impact
US salmonella scare
WHAT you feed animals around the time of conception could have a lifelong impact on their offsprings performance, according to new research.
SAC researcher Cheryl Ashworth told visitors to the Royal Show that unfertilised eggs are particularly sensitive to nutrient supply. "Producers usually pay most attention to feeding in late pregnancy when nutrient demand of the foetus is highest. But nutrition around mating time has an impact on which genes are switched on in the developing embryo," she said.
"This can influence vigour of newborn animals, as well as growth and reproductive performance in later life."
The importance of ensuring sheep have adequate cobalt around mating to promote lamb vigour has already been proven, but further work is needed before recommending suitable diets or supplements, said Dr Ashworth. *
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