INFLUENCE OF BODY CONDITION ON OVULATORY RESPONSE TO LUPIN (LUPINUS-ANGUSTIFOLIUS) SUPPLEMENTATION OF SHEEP

Fifteen mature Merino ewes were fattened with a maize grain/alfalfa ch aff diet while an equal-sized group of similar ewes were maintained in store (score 2) condition (mean BW difference 11 kg). All sheep were then fed a maintenance diet of oat chaff. Following synchronization of all sheep with intravaginal sponges containing 40 mg progestagen, hal f of each group were fed a lupin (Lupinus angustifolius) grain supplem ent of 750 g/head/d from d 8 onwards of progestagen treatment. Ovulati on rate following removal of the sponges was 64% higher (P<0.05) in th e lupin-supplemented group but was not affected (P > 0.05) by the cond ition score of the ewes. Plasma glucose, plasma urea nitrogen and some plasma amino acids were higher (P < 0.05) in the lupin-supplemented g roup. These results indicate that nutritional flushing may increase ov ulation rate of ewes regardless of their body condition.