The Relationship between Sheep Management and Lamb Mortality
This study was carried out to investigate lamb mortalities relating to ewes' breed and some managemental factors on 250 pregnant ewes (190-Rahmani, 30-Ossimi and 30-Romanov) at Mehallet Mousa, Animal Production Research Station, Kafr El- Sheikh Province, Egypt. These animals divided into five groups according to the managemental factors used. The results revealed that the lamb mortality was higher in Ossimi breed and lower in Romanov one. In addition, the highest lamb mortality occurred among lambs for unsupplemented ewes, for those had body condition score two and for lambs which born outdoor. Moreover, the lamb survivability was increased by the parity of ewes. From this study it can be concluded that the lamb mortality depends on ewes' body condition score, parity, lambing system (indoor or outdoor), nutrition during pregnancy period and selected breed. In addition, the most important period for lamb survival is the first week of age.
[1] G. E. Banchero, G. Quinans, G. B. Martin, D. R. Lindsay, and J. T. B.
Milton, "Nutrition and colostrum production in sheep.1. Metabolic and
hormonal responses to high-energy supplement in the final stages of
pregnancy" Reprod. Fertil. Dev., vol. 16, 2004, pp. 633-643.
[2] S. H. Binns, I. J. Cox, S. Rizvi, and L. E. Green, "Risk factors of lamb
mortality of UK sheep farms" Prev. Vet. Med., vol. 52, 2002, pp. 287-
303.
[3] D. C. Dalton, T. W. Knight, and D. L. Johnson, "Lamb survival in sheep
breeds on New Zealand hill country" N. Z. J. Agri. Res., vol. 23, 1980,
pp. 167-173.
[4] C. M. Dwyer, "Behavioral development in the neonatal lamb: effect of
maternal and birth-related factors" Theriogen., vol. 59, 2003, pp. 1027-
1050.
[5] C. M. Dwyer, S. K. Calvert, M. Farish, J. Donbavand, and H. E. Pickup,
"Breed, litter and parity effects on placental weight and placentome
number, and consequences for neonatal behavior of the lamb"
Theriogen., vol. 63, 2005, pp. 1092-1110.
[6] C. M. Dwyer, A. B. Lawrence, S. C. Bishop, and M. ewis, "Ewe-lamb
bonding behaviors at birth are affected by maternal under nutrition in
pregnancy" Br. J. Nutr., vol. 89, 2003, pp. 123-136.
[7] C. M. Dwyer, and A. B. Lawrence, "Maternal behavior in domestic
sheep (Ovis aries): constancy and change with maternal experience"
Behav., vol. 137, 2000, pp. 1391-1413.
[8] C. M. Dwyer, and A. B. Lawrence, "Variability in the expression of
maternal behavior in primiparous sheep: Effects of genotype and litter
size" Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci., vol. 58, 1998, pp. 311-330.
[9] C. M. Dwyer, and A. B. Lawrence, "Does the behavior of the neonate
influence the expression of maternal behavior in sheep?" Behav.,
vol.136, 1999, pp. 367-389.
[10] C. M. Dwyer, and A. B. Lawrence, "A review of the behavioral and
physiological adaptations of extensively managed breeds of sheep that
favour lamb survival" Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci., vol. 92, 2005, pp. 235-
260.
[11] J. M. Everett-Hincks, H. T. Blair, K. J. Stafford, N. Lopez-Villalobos, P.
R. Kenyon, and S. T. Morris, "The effect of pasture allowance during
pregnancy on maternal behavior and lamb rearing performance in highly
fecund ewes" Livest. Prod. Sci., vol. 97, 2005, pp. 253-266.
[12] J. M. Everett-Hincks, N. Lopez-Villalobos, H. T. Blair, and K. J.
Stafford, "The effect of ewe maternal behavior score on lamb and litter
survival" Livest. Prod. Sci., vol. 93, 2004, pp. 51-61.
[13] N. M. Fogarty, D. L. Hopkins, and R. van de Ven, "Lamb production
from diverse genotypes 1. Lamb growth and survival and ewe
performance" Anim. Sci., vol. 70, 2000, pp. 135-145.
[14] D. G. Hall, L. R. Piper, A. R. Egan, and B. M. Bindon, "Lamb and milk
production from Booroola ewes supplemented in late pregnancy" Aust.
J. Exp. Agr., vol. 32, 1992, pp. 587-593.
[15] G. K. Hight, and K. E. Jury, "Hill country sheep production. II. Lamb
mortality and birth weights in Romney and Border Leicester × Romney
flocks" N. Z. J. Agri. Res., vol. 13, 1970, pp. 735-752.
[16] G. N. Hinch, J. J. Lynch, J. V. Nolan, R. A. Leng, B. M. Bindon, and L.
R. Piper, "Supplementation of high fecundity Border Leicester x Merino
ewes with a high protein feed: Its effect on lamb survival" Aust. J. Exp.
Agric., vol. 36, 1996, pp.129-136.
[17] R. W. Kelly, E. J. Speijer, I. G. Ralph, and J. P. Newnham, "Lambing
performances and wool production in maiden adult Merino ewes fed
different amount of lupin seed in mid-pregnancy" Aust. J. Agri. Res.,
vol. 43, 1992, pp. 339-354.
[18] J. I. Kerslake, J. M. Everett-Hincks, and A. W. Campbell, "Lamb
survival: A new examination of an old problem" Proc. N. Z. Soc. Anim.
Prod., vol. 65, 2005, pp.13-18.
[19] K. Khan, "Effects of body condition and pre-lambing supplementation
on ewe productivity" Masters Thesis, 1994, Oregon State University,
Corvallis.
[20] P. Le-Neindre, P. M. Murphy, A. Boissy, I. W. Purvis, D. Lindsay, P.
Orgeur, J. Bouix, and B. Bibé, "Genetics of maternal ability in cattle
and sheep. Proc. 6th World Congr" Genet. Livest. Prod., vol. 27, 1998,
pp. 23-30.
[21] J. J. Lynch, R. A. Leng, G. N. Hinch, J. Nolan, B. M. Bindon, L. R.
Piper, "Effects of cottonseed supplementation on birth weights and
survival of lambs from a range of litter sizes" Proc. Aust. Soc. Anim.
Prod., vol. 18, 1990, pp. 516-521.
[22] P. M. Murphy, D. McNeill, J. S. Fisher, and D. R. Lindsay, "Strategic
feeding of Merino ewes in late pregnancy to increase colostrum
production" Proc. Aust. Soc. Anim. Prod., vol. 21, 1996, pp. 227-230.
[23] M. L. Nash, L. L. Hungerford, T. G. Nash, and G. M. Zinn, "Risk
factors for prenatal and postnatal mortality in lambs" Vet. Rec., vol.
139, 1996, pp. 64-67.
[24] D. J. Nordby, R. A. Field, M. L. Riley, C. L. Johnson, and C. J. Kercher,
"Effects of maternal under-nutrition during early pregnancy on postnatal
growth in lambs" Proc. West. Sec. Am.Soc. Anim. Sci., vol. 37, 1986,
pp. 92.
[25] R. Nowak, R. H. Porter, F. Lévy, P. Orgeur, and B. Schaal, "Role of
mother-young interactions in the survival of offspring in domestic
mammals" Rev. Reprod., vol. 5, 2000, pp.153-163.
[26] C. E. O-Connor, N. P. Jay, A. M. Nicol, and P. R. Beatson, "Ewe
maternal behavior score and lamb survival" Proc. N. Z. Soc. Anim.
Prod., vol. 45, 1985, pp. 159-162.
[27] P. Poindron, P. Le-Neindre, F. Lévy, and E. B. Keverne, "The
physiological mechanisms of the acceptance of the newborn among
sheep" Biol. Behav., vol. 9, 1984, pp. 65-88.
[28] I. G. Putu, P. Poindron, D. R. Lindsay, "A high level of nutrition during
late pregnancy improves subsequent maternal behavior of Merino
ewes" Proc. Aust. Soc. Anim. Prod., vol. 17, 1988, pp. 294-297.
[29] J. J. Robinson, T. G. McEvoy, and K. D. Sinclair, "Nutritional effects
on foetal growth" Anim. Sci., vol. 68, 1999, pp. 315-331.
[30] J. P. Rowland, M. D. Salman, C. V. Kimberling, D. J. Schweitzer, and T.
J. Keffe, "Epidemiologic factors involved in perinatal lamb mortality in
four range sheep operations" Am. J. Vet. Res., vol. 53, 1992, pp. 262-
267.
[31] R. M. Sawalha, J. Conington, S. Brotherstone, and B. Villaneuva,
"Analyses of lamb survival in Scottish Blackface sheep" Animal, vol.
1, 2007, pp. 151-157.
[32] SAS/STAT, User's Guide, Version 6, Cary NC, 1990.
[33] G. H. Scales, R. N. Burton, and R. A. Moss, "Lamb mortality, birth
weight and nutrition in late pregnancy" N. Z. J. Agric. Res., vol. 29,
1986 pp. 75-82.
[34] M. P. Shipka, and S. P. Ford, "Relationship of circulating oestrogen and
progesterone concentrations during late pregnancy and the onset phase
of maternal behavior in the ewe" Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci., vol. 31,
1991, pp. 91-99.
[35] B. B. Southey, S. L. Rodriguez-Zas, and K. A. Leymaster, "Competing
risks analysis of lamb mortality in a terminal sire composite
population" J. Anim. Sci., vol. 82, 2004, pp. 2892-2899.
[36] K. S. West, H. H. Meyer, and R. G. Sasser, "Ewe body condition and
nutrition effects on embryonic loss" J. Anim. Sci., vol. 67(1), 1989, pp.
424.
[1] G. E. Banchero, G. Quinans, G. B. Martin, D. R. Lindsay, and J. T. B.
Milton, "Nutrition and colostrum production in sheep.1. Metabolic and
hormonal responses to high-energy supplement in the final stages of
pregnancy" Reprod. Fertil. Dev., vol. 16, 2004, pp. 633-643.
[2] S. H. Binns, I. J. Cox, S. Rizvi, and L. E. Green, "Risk factors of lamb
mortality of UK sheep farms" Prev. Vet. Med., vol. 52, 2002, pp. 287-
303.
[3] D. C. Dalton, T. W. Knight, and D. L. Johnson, "Lamb survival in sheep
breeds on New Zealand hill country" N. Z. J. Agri. Res., vol. 23, 1980,
pp. 167-173.
[4] C. M. Dwyer, "Behavioral development in the neonatal lamb: effect of
maternal and birth-related factors" Theriogen., vol. 59, 2003, pp. 1027-
1050.
[5] C. M. Dwyer, S. K. Calvert, M. Farish, J. Donbavand, and H. E. Pickup,
"Breed, litter and parity effects on placental weight and placentome
number, and consequences for neonatal behavior of the lamb"
Theriogen., vol. 63, 2005, pp. 1092-1110.
[6] C. M. Dwyer, A. B. Lawrence, S. C. Bishop, and M. ewis, "Ewe-lamb
bonding behaviors at birth are affected by maternal under nutrition in
pregnancy" Br. J. Nutr., vol. 89, 2003, pp. 123-136.
[7] C. M. Dwyer, and A. B. Lawrence, "Maternal behavior in domestic
sheep (Ovis aries): constancy and change with maternal experience"
Behav., vol. 137, 2000, pp. 1391-1413.
[8] C. M. Dwyer, and A. B. Lawrence, "Variability in the expression of
maternal behavior in primiparous sheep: Effects of genotype and litter
size" Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci., vol. 58, 1998, pp. 311-330.
[9] C. M. Dwyer, and A. B. Lawrence, "Does the behavior of the neonate
influence the expression of maternal behavior in sheep?" Behav.,
vol.136, 1999, pp. 367-389.
[10] C. M. Dwyer, and A. B. Lawrence, "A review of the behavioral and
physiological adaptations of extensively managed breeds of sheep that
favour lamb survival" Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci., vol. 92, 2005, pp. 235-
260.
[11] J. M. Everett-Hincks, H. T. Blair, K. J. Stafford, N. Lopez-Villalobos, P.
R. Kenyon, and S. T. Morris, "The effect of pasture allowance during
pregnancy on maternal behavior and lamb rearing performance in highly
fecund ewes" Livest. Prod. Sci., vol. 97, 2005, pp. 253-266.
[12] J. M. Everett-Hincks, N. Lopez-Villalobos, H. T. Blair, and K. J.
Stafford, "The effect of ewe maternal behavior score on lamb and litter
survival" Livest. Prod. Sci., vol. 93, 2004, pp. 51-61.
[13] N. M. Fogarty, D. L. Hopkins, and R. van de Ven, "Lamb production
from diverse genotypes 1. Lamb growth and survival and ewe
performance" Anim. Sci., vol. 70, 2000, pp. 135-145.
[14] D. G. Hall, L. R. Piper, A. R. Egan, and B. M. Bindon, "Lamb and milk
production from Booroola ewes supplemented in late pregnancy" Aust.
J. Exp. Agr., vol. 32, 1992, pp. 587-593.
[15] G. K. Hight, and K. E. Jury, "Hill country sheep production. II. Lamb
mortality and birth weights in Romney and Border Leicester × Romney
flocks" N. Z. J. Agri. Res., vol. 13, 1970, pp. 735-752.
[16] G. N. Hinch, J. J. Lynch, J. V. Nolan, R. A. Leng, B. M. Bindon, and L.
R. Piper, "Supplementation of high fecundity Border Leicester x Merino
ewes with a high protein feed: Its effect on lamb survival" Aust. J. Exp.
Agric., vol. 36, 1996, pp.129-136.
[17] R. W. Kelly, E. J. Speijer, I. G. Ralph, and J. P. Newnham, "Lambing
performances and wool production in maiden adult Merino ewes fed
different amount of lupin seed in mid-pregnancy" Aust. J. Agri. Res.,
vol. 43, 1992, pp. 339-354.
[18] J. I. Kerslake, J. M. Everett-Hincks, and A. W. Campbell, "Lamb
survival: A new examination of an old problem" Proc. N. Z. Soc. Anim.
Prod., vol. 65, 2005, pp.13-18.
[19] K. Khan, "Effects of body condition and pre-lambing supplementation
on ewe productivity" Masters Thesis, 1994, Oregon State University,
Corvallis.
[20] P. Le-Neindre, P. M. Murphy, A. Boissy, I. W. Purvis, D. Lindsay, P.
Orgeur, J. Bouix, and B. Bibé, "Genetics of maternal ability in cattle
and sheep. Proc. 6th World Congr" Genet. Livest. Prod., vol. 27, 1998,
pp. 23-30.
[21] J. J. Lynch, R. A. Leng, G. N. Hinch, J. Nolan, B. M. Bindon, L. R.
Piper, "Effects of cottonseed supplementation on birth weights and
survival of lambs from a range of litter sizes" Proc. Aust. Soc. Anim.
Prod., vol. 18, 1990, pp. 516-521.
[22] P. M. Murphy, D. McNeill, J. S. Fisher, and D. R. Lindsay, "Strategic
feeding of Merino ewes in late pregnancy to increase colostrum
production" Proc. Aust. Soc. Anim. Prod., vol. 21, 1996, pp. 227-230.
[23] M. L. Nash, L. L. Hungerford, T. G. Nash, and G. M. Zinn, "Risk
factors for prenatal and postnatal mortality in lambs" Vet. Rec., vol.
139, 1996, pp. 64-67.
[24] D. J. Nordby, R. A. Field, M. L. Riley, C. L. Johnson, and C. J. Kercher,
"Effects of maternal under-nutrition during early pregnancy on postnatal
growth in lambs" Proc. West. Sec. Am.Soc. Anim. Sci., vol. 37, 1986,
pp. 92.
[25] R. Nowak, R. H. Porter, F. Lévy, P. Orgeur, and B. Schaal, "Role of
mother-young interactions in the survival of offspring in domestic
mammals" Rev. Reprod., vol. 5, 2000, pp.153-163.
[26] C. E. O-Connor, N. P. Jay, A. M. Nicol, and P. R. Beatson, "Ewe
maternal behavior score and lamb survival" Proc. N. Z. Soc. Anim.
Prod., vol. 45, 1985, pp. 159-162.
[27] P. Poindron, P. Le-Neindre, F. Lévy, and E. B. Keverne, "The
physiological mechanisms of the acceptance of the newborn among
sheep" Biol. Behav., vol. 9, 1984, pp. 65-88.
[28] I. G. Putu, P. Poindron, D. R. Lindsay, "A high level of nutrition during
late pregnancy improves subsequent maternal behavior of Merino
ewes" Proc. Aust. Soc. Anim. Prod., vol. 17, 1988, pp. 294-297.
[29] J. J. Robinson, T. G. McEvoy, and K. D. Sinclair, "Nutritional effects
on foetal growth" Anim. Sci., vol. 68, 1999, pp. 315-331.
[30] J. P. Rowland, M. D. Salman, C. V. Kimberling, D. J. Schweitzer, and T.
J. Keffe, "Epidemiologic factors involved in perinatal lamb mortality in
four range sheep operations" Am. J. Vet. Res., vol. 53, 1992, pp. 262-
267.
[31] R. M. Sawalha, J. Conington, S. Brotherstone, and B. Villaneuva,
"Analyses of lamb survival in Scottish Blackface sheep" Animal, vol.
1, 2007, pp. 151-157.
[32] SAS/STAT, User's Guide, Version 6, Cary NC, 1990.
[33] G. H. Scales, R. N. Burton, and R. A. Moss, "Lamb mortality, birth
weight and nutrition in late pregnancy" N. Z. J. Agric. Res., vol. 29,
1986 pp. 75-82.
[34] M. P. Shipka, and S. P. Ford, "Relationship of circulating oestrogen and
progesterone concentrations during late pregnancy and the onset phase
of maternal behavior in the ewe" Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci., vol. 31,
1991, pp. 91-99.
[35] B. B. Southey, S. L. Rodriguez-Zas, and K. A. Leymaster, "Competing
risks analysis of lamb mortality in a terminal sire composite
population" J. Anim. Sci., vol. 82, 2004, pp. 2892-2899.
[36] K. S. West, H. H. Meyer, and R. G. Sasser, "Ewe body condition and
nutrition effects on embryonic loss" J. Anim. Sci., vol. 67(1), 1989, pp.
424.
@article{"International Journal of Biological, Life and Agricultural Sciences:58361", author = "T. M. Mousa-Balabel", title = "The Relationship between Sheep Management and Lamb Mortality", abstract = "This study was carried out to investigate lamb mortalities relating to ewes' breed and some managemental factors on 250 pregnant ewes (190-Rahmani, 30-Ossimi and 30-Romanov) at Mehallet Mousa, Animal Production Research Station, Kafr El- Sheikh Province, Egypt. These animals divided into five groups according to the managemental factors used. The results revealed that the lamb mortality was higher in Ossimi breed and lower in Romanov one. In addition, the highest lamb mortality occurred among lambs for unsupplemented ewes, for those had body condition score two and for lambs which born outdoor. Moreover, the lamb survivability was increased by the parity of ewes. From this study it can be concluded that the lamb mortality depends on ewes' body condition score, parity, lambing system (indoor or outdoor), nutrition during pregnancy period and selected breed. In addition, the most important period for lamb survival is the first week of age.
", keywords = "lamb mortality, sheep breeds, sheep management,sheep parity.", volume = "4", number = "5", pages = "314-6", }
