Observations on the onset of the breeding season and on the oestrous cycle of the Welsh Mountain ewe

Abstract

1.Within a flock of 55 Welsh Mountain ewes maintained under lowland conditions the first ewe came into oestrus on the 14th October. The mean cycle length of 44 normal cycles was 16 days 3 hr.2. The onset of oestrus as assessed by the time of mounting of the ram does not appear to be evenly distributed throughout the day (24 hr.).