Does Melatonin Enhance Twin Lamb Survival in Commercial Merino Flocks in Australia?
In research flocks, supplementing pregnant ewes with melatonin has been shown to be a novel approach to ameliorate parturient neurological damage and improve twin lamb survival. This study investigated the commercial applicability of melatonin supplementation for Merino flocks managed under extensiv...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-03-01
|
| Series: | Animals |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/7/946 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850213356763348992 |
|---|---|
| author | Alyce M. Lowe David O. Kleemann Jennifer M. Kelly Andrew N. Thompson Jarryd Krog William H. E. J. van Wettere Alice C. Weaver |
| author_facet | Alyce M. Lowe David O. Kleemann Jennifer M. Kelly Andrew N. Thompson Jarryd Krog William H. E. J. van Wettere Alice C. Weaver |
| author_sort | Alyce M. Lowe |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In research flocks, supplementing pregnant ewes with melatonin has been shown to be a novel approach to ameliorate parturient neurological damage and improve twin lamb survival. This study investigated the commercial applicability of melatonin supplementation for Merino flocks managed under extensive grazing conditions. Multiparous twin-bearing ewes were implanted with one melatonin implant (18 mg, Regulin<sup>®</sup>) each on two properties in South Australia and one in Western Australia (<i>n</i> = 585) at a median 79 days of gestation, with control ewes not implanted (<i>n</i> = 586). Ewes were managed as per standard protocols for each property. Lambs and ewes were counted at tail docking and weaning, and the lambs were weighed at weaning. Lamb survival was not influenced by melatonin treatment at either tail docking (<i>p</i> = 0.327) or weaning (<i>p</i> = 0.546). Across all sites, lamb survival at weaning for control and melatonin treatments was 74.7% and 74.0%, respectively, with lamb weaning weight of 27.2 ± 0.1 kg and 26.8 ± 0.1 kg (<i>p</i> = 0.020). These results indicate that supplementing twin-bearing Merino ewes with melatonin during mid-gestation was not a practical strategy to increase either lamb survival or weaning weight on commercial farms. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-aaf27504cced4b8aaa8b8d685e2575a8 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj-art-aaf27504cced4b8aaa8b8d685e2575a82025-08-20T02:09:10ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-03-0115794610.3390/ani15070946Does Melatonin Enhance Twin Lamb Survival in Commercial Merino Flocks in Australia?Alyce M. Lowe0David O. Kleemann1Jennifer M. Kelly2Andrew N. Thompson3Jarryd Krog4William H. E. J. van Wettere5Alice C. Weaver6Turretfield Research Centre, South Australian Research and Development Institute, Department of Primary Industries Regions South Australia, Livestock Innovation and Welfare, Rosedale, SA 5350, AustraliaTurretfield Research Centre, South Australian Research and Development Institute, Department of Primary Industries Regions South Australia, Livestock Innovation and Welfare, Rosedale, SA 5350, AustraliaTurretfield Research Centre, South Australian Research and Development Institute, Department of Primary Industries Regions South Australia, Livestock Innovation and Welfare, Rosedale, SA 5350, AustraliaCentre for Animal Production and Health, Food Futures Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, AustraliaCentre for Animal Production and Health, Food Futures Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, AustraliaDavies Livestock Research Centre, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5001, AustraliaTurretfield Research Centre, South Australian Research and Development Institute, Department of Primary Industries Regions South Australia, Livestock Innovation and Welfare, Rosedale, SA 5350, AustraliaIn research flocks, supplementing pregnant ewes with melatonin has been shown to be a novel approach to ameliorate parturient neurological damage and improve twin lamb survival. This study investigated the commercial applicability of melatonin supplementation for Merino flocks managed under extensive grazing conditions. Multiparous twin-bearing ewes were implanted with one melatonin implant (18 mg, Regulin<sup>®</sup>) each on two properties in South Australia and one in Western Australia (<i>n</i> = 585) at a median 79 days of gestation, with control ewes not implanted (<i>n</i> = 586). Ewes were managed as per standard protocols for each property. Lambs and ewes were counted at tail docking and weaning, and the lambs were weighed at weaning. Lamb survival was not influenced by melatonin treatment at either tail docking (<i>p</i> = 0.327) or weaning (<i>p</i> = 0.546). Across all sites, lamb survival at weaning for control and melatonin treatments was 74.7% and 74.0%, respectively, with lamb weaning weight of 27.2 ± 0.1 kg and 26.8 ± 0.1 kg (<i>p</i> = 0.020). These results indicate that supplementing twin-bearing Merino ewes with melatonin during mid-gestation was not a practical strategy to increase either lamb survival or weaning weight on commercial farms.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/7/946melatoningestationeweslamb survivallamb growthtwin |
| spellingShingle | Alyce M. Lowe David O. Kleemann Jennifer M. Kelly Andrew N. Thompson Jarryd Krog William H. E. J. van Wettere Alice C. Weaver Does Melatonin Enhance Twin Lamb Survival in Commercial Merino Flocks in Australia? Animals melatonin gestation ewes lamb survival lamb growth twin |
| title | Does Melatonin Enhance Twin Lamb Survival in Commercial Merino Flocks in Australia? |
| title_full | Does Melatonin Enhance Twin Lamb Survival in Commercial Merino Flocks in Australia? |
| title_fullStr | Does Melatonin Enhance Twin Lamb Survival in Commercial Merino Flocks in Australia? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Does Melatonin Enhance Twin Lamb Survival in Commercial Merino Flocks in Australia? |
| title_short | Does Melatonin Enhance Twin Lamb Survival in Commercial Merino Flocks in Australia? |
| title_sort | does melatonin enhance twin lamb survival in commercial merino flocks in australia |
| topic | melatonin gestation ewes lamb survival lamb growth twin |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/7/946 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT alycemlowe doesmelatoninenhancetwinlambsurvivalincommercialmerinoflocksinaustralia AT davidokleemann doesmelatoninenhancetwinlambsurvivalincommercialmerinoflocksinaustralia AT jennifermkelly doesmelatoninenhancetwinlambsurvivalincommercialmerinoflocksinaustralia AT andrewnthompson doesmelatoninenhancetwinlambsurvivalincommercialmerinoflocksinaustralia AT jarrydkrog doesmelatoninenhancetwinlambsurvivalincommercialmerinoflocksinaustralia AT williamhejvanwettere doesmelatoninenhancetwinlambsurvivalincommercialmerinoflocksinaustralia AT alicecweaver doesmelatoninenhancetwinlambsurvivalincommercialmerinoflocksinaustralia |