Early age of ewes

Many studies conducted both domestically and internationally have shown that early mating in ewes typically does not significantly harm their growth and development, but rather offers considerable benefits for productivity and breeding. First, early mating allows lambs to increase their lifetime productivity and improve overall efficiency in sheep production. Second, it helps shorten the generational gap, thereby accelerating genetic progress and breeding cycles. Additionally, ewes that mate at an early age tend to have stronger maternal instincts and are less likely to experience complications during lambing. As a result, some countries have adjusted the initial mating age of ewes to between 6 and 9 months, enabling them to give birth as early as 12 to 14 months old, which is a shift from the traditional practice of waiting until they are 1.5 to 2.5 years old. In China, breeds such as the Small Tail Han and Hu sheep are commonly mated at 6 to 7 months, allowing spring-born lambs to be bred again in the 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 comparable to that of their non-mated peers. Studies on the effects of pregnancy and lactation on young ewes found that pregnancy usually does not significantly impact their 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 like nerves, bones, or muscles. Moreover, experiments show that both early-mated and one-year-old ewes eventually reach similar weights by the time they are 2 to 2.5 years old. Male lambs, on the other hand, often have lower fertility and poorer semen quality compared to adult rams. Therefore, when using male lambs for breeding, the mating rate should be appropriately reduced. Using high-quality male lambs for artificial insemination can yield good results. Lambs selected for early mating should be well-developed, with properly developed testicles and penis. Early mating in males is generally recommended between 6 and 9 months of age. For early-maturing breeds, mating at 6 to 7 months is acceptable under proper husbandry conditions. Several factors influence early lamb mating and reproductive success: first, the physical size and body condition at the time of mating play a key role. Research shows that breeding can begin once the lamb has reached about 70% of its mature weight, making pre-mating feeding and management crucial. Second, breed type matters—early-maturing breeds can meet reproductive requirements by 6 to 7 months, while late-maturing ones struggle more. Third, selection during puberty can help establish earlier maturity. For example, under similar conditions, 50% of selected Targhee ewes were pregnant at 7 months, compared to only 20% of unselected ones. Testicle size in rams also affects the onset of puberty in their daughters, with those from larger-testicled rams reaching puberty earlier. Fourth, the time of birth and breeding season impact conception rates; females born in February tend to have higher fertility when bred in September or October. Lastly, breeding female lambs with adult ewes can reduce the fertility of male lambs, so it's better to keep them in separate groups. As male lambs age, their fertility improves, leading to higher lambing rates.

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