Early age of ewes

Many studies conducted both domestically and internationally have shown that early mating in ewes typically does not have significant negative impacts on their growth and development, but rather offers several benefits for production and breeding. First, early mating allows lambs to increase their lifetime productivity, thereby improving overall sheep production efficiency. Second, it helps shorten the generational gap, which accelerates genetic improvement and breeding progress. Additionally, ewes that mate early tend to exhibit stronger maternal traits and are less likely to be overburdened during lambing. As a result, some countries have adjusted the initial mating age of ewes to 6 to 9 months, enabling them to give birth as early as 14 months of age, moving away from the traditional practice of waiting until they are 1.5 to 2.5 years old. In China, breeds like the Small Tail Han and Hu sheep are commonly mated at 6 to 7 months, allowing spring-born lambs to be bred in the following autumn. Research has confirmed that early maturation in female lambs may temporarily slow down their growth during the early stages of life. However, by the time they reach one year of age, their weight is generally similar to that of their non-mated counterparts. Studies on the effects of pregnancy and lactation on young females revealed that pregnancy usually has little impact on the mother’s growth until around 120 days. Ewes aged 7 to 12 months can slow the growth of fat tissue, but this does not negatively affect the development of structural or precocious tissues such as nerves, bones, or muscles. Furthermore, experiments showed that both early-mating lambs and year-old ewes reach comparable weights by the time they are 2 to 2.5 years old. Male lambs, on the other hand, generally have lower breeding capabilities and poorer semen quality compared to adult rams. Therefore, when mating with male lambs, the number of females should be appropriately reduced. Using high-quality male lambs for artificial insemination often yields good results. For successful early mating, lambs must show proper growth and development, with well-developed penises and normal testicle development. The typical age for early mating in males is also between 6 to 9 months. For early-maturing breeds, mating at 6 to 7 months is acceptable under good management and feeding conditions. Several factors influence early lamb mating and reproductive success: first, the physical size and body condition at the time of mating. It has been observed that when lambs reach about 70% of their mature weight, they are ready for breeding. This makes pre-mating nutrition and care extremely important. Second, breed type plays a role—early-maturing breeds can meet reproductive requirements by 6 to 7 months, while late-maturing breeds struggle more. Third, selective breeding during the pubertal stage can help set the population for earlier maturity. For example, under similar conditions, 50% of selected Targhee sheep were pregnant at 7 months, while only 20% of unselected ones were. Testicle size was also found to influence the timing of puberty in daughters. Fourth, the birth season and breeding period affect conception rates. Research shows that female lambs born in February are best suited for breeding between September and October. Lastly, breeding female lambs with adult ewes together can reduce the fertility of male lambs. Therefore, it's better to separate them into different groups. As male lambs age, their fertility tends to improve.

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