Relationships between prenatal ewe traits, milk production, and preweaning performance of twin lambs

There is limited information on factors affecting twin lamb growth before weaning, which limits the options available to farmers to actively manage lamb growth. Data from 2 multiyear experiments involving 402 twin-bearing Romney ewes were used to evaluate the effects of prenatal ewe traits (live weight at mating and set stocking and BCS at mating and set stocking) and combined twin lamb birth weight on ewe milk production and lamb growth from birth to weaning as well as the proportion of variation in twin lamb growth that could be explained by these variables. Additionally, the effect of accumulated ewe milk yield over a 42-d period (MY; Days 0 to 42) and accumulated milk components (protein, fat, and lactose) on twin lamb growth were investigated. The effects of prenatal variables on MY, birth weight, and combined twin lamb live weight gain from Day 0 to 42 (LWG) were inconsistent across the 2 experiments. In addition, prenatal ewe traits ( < 0.05) explained less than 30% of the variation in MY and lamb growth from birth to weaning in both experiments. Combined twin lamb birth weight was positively ( < 0.001) correlated with MY ( = 0.34 and = 0.43 in Exp. 1 and 2, respectively). Combined twin lamb LWG was dependent on ewe MY ( = 0.43 for Exp. 1 and = 0.30 for Exp. 2). Lactose, fat, and milk CP yields explained 47 and 42% of the variation in lamb LWG in Exp. 1 and 2, respectively. Lactose and milk CP yield positively affected ( < 0.05) LWG in Exp. 1 and 2, respectively. Fat yield had a positive relationship with LWG in Exp. 1 and a negative relationship with LWG in Exp. 2. In conclusion, the measured prenatal ewe traits had a minimal effect on milk yield and twin lamb growth to weaning. Milk yield and composition explained the greatest proportion of variation in LWG. This suggests that farmers should select ewes with higher milk yields to maximize twin lamb growth to weaning. However, less than 50% of the variation in LWG and weaning live weight was explained by the measured ewe and lamb parameters. Therefore, further studies are required to determine additional ewe or lamb variables that control variation in twin lamb growth.