Impact of wool stubble depth after mid pregnancy shearing on Corriedale ewe and lamb performance

The three experiments investigated the effects on physiology and production parameters of Corriedale ewes shorn in mid pregnancy, either using the cover or “R13” combs or leaving them unshorn. The experiments utilised both ewes and hoggets. In both experiments, the R13 comb left a greater stubble depth than the cover comb (P < 0.05). The rectal post shearing temperature of ewes shorn either by the traditional cover or by R13 comb was lower than that of unshorn ewes (P < 0.05), but between combs did not differ from each other (P > 0.05). Shearing treatment had no effect on ewe live weight (P > 0.05) and only a transitory (P < 0.05) effect on ewe body condition score was observed on some occasions. In general, mid-pregnancy shearing increased lamb birth weight (P < 0.05). In one out of three experiments, birth weight was increased by the R13 compared to the cover comb (P > 0.05). Therefore, under the extensive grazing situations of Uruguay, shearing Corriedale ewes in mid-pregnancy, is a management tool that does not increase lamb birth weight and weaning weight consistently.