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Catherine Gulliver
PhD Student
School School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences
Location Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga
Phone
0427 587 312
Email cgulliver@csu.edu.au
Project
Improving reproductive efficiency in ewes: Manipulating maternal nutrition to increase ovulation rate and influence the sex ratio of offspring.
Summary
Manipulation of ewe nutrition offers farmers a viable and sustainable method of improving reproductive efficiency in sheep. These nutritional strategies can be employed firstly, to increase ovulation rates and maximise the number of lambs born, and secondly, to alter the sex ratio of offspring and maximise the number of lambs of the preferred gender.
Increasing ovulation rate
Reproductive wastage is one of the major causes of economic loss to Australian sheep producers and thus to the Australian sheep industry. Loss of potential lambs can occur at a number of stages during the reproductive cycle, however if we are to maxmise lambs produced, we must seek to maxmise ovulation rate (the number of eggs shed and a measure of the potential number of lambs born). Short-term nutritional supplementation (flushing) can increase ovulation rate, without affecting liveweight or body condition score. My research will investigate the physiological mechanisms involved; the role of oestrus synchrony in facilitating the short-term flushing mechanism and the efficacy of perennial pasture species in these treatments.
Altering sex ratio of offspring
Many stud and commercial sheep operations would benefit from skewing the sex ratio of offspring towards their preferred gender. Prime lambs producers using terminal sires for example, typically prefer male offspring due to their faster growth rates and muscle accumulation. Preliminary evidence indicates that diets high in omega-3 may have anti-inflammatory effects in utero and lead to lower losses of male embryos and, therefore, a higher proportion of male offspring. My research will investigate the ability to alter sex ratios in sheep through altering the ratio of omega-3 PUFA in the maternal diet and the potential mechanisms involved.
Supervisors
Dr Michael Friend, Dr Edward Clayton, Dr Belinda King, Dr Susan Robertson, Dr Graeme Martin
Funding source
Australian Postgraduate Award - Australian Government; Future Farm Industries CRC