Abortion and lamb mortality between pregnancy scanning and lamb marking for maiden ewes in southern Australia

T. Clune; A. Lockwood; S. Hancock; A.N. Thompson; S. Beetson; A.J.D. Campbell; E. Glanville; D. Brookes; C. Trengove; R. O’Handley; G. Kearney; C. Jacobson

doi:10.3390/ani12010010

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Abortion and lamb mortality between pregnancy scanning and lamb marking for maiden ewes in southern Australia

Journal article

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Abortion and lamb mortality between pregnancy scanning and lamb marking for maiden ewes in southern Australia

T. Clune, A. Lockwood, S. Hancock, A.N. Thompson, S. Beetson, A.J.D. Campbell, E. Glanville, D. Brookes, C. Trengove, R. O’Handley, …

Animals, Vol.12(1), Art.10

2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12010010

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Abstract

The contribution of abortions to the overall mortality of lambs born to maiden (primiparous) ewes in Australia remains unclear. This cohort study aimed to quantify abortion and lamb mortality for ewe lambs and maiden Merino two-tooth ewes. Lamb mortality from pregnancy scanning to marking were determined for 19 ewe lamb and 11 Merino two-tooth ewe flocks across southern Australia. Average lamb mortality from scanning to marking was 35.8% (range 14.3–71.1%) for the ewe lambs and 29.4% (range 19.7–52.7%) for the two-tooth ewes. Mid-pregnancy abortion was detected in 5.7% of ewes (range 0–50%) in the ewe lamb flocks and 0.9% of ewes (range 0–4.4%) in the two-tooth ewe flocks. Mid-pregnancy abortion affecting ≥2% of ewes was observed in 6/19 ewe lamb flocks and 2/11 two-tooth ewe flocks. Lamb mortality from birth to marking represented the greatest contributor to foetal and lamb mortality after scanning, but mid-pregnancy abortion was an important contributor to lamb mortality in some ewe lamb flocks. Variability between the flocks indicates scope to improve the overall reproductive performance for maiden ewes by reducing foetal and lamb losses. Addressing mid-pregnancy abortion may improve the reproductive performance in some flocks.

Details

Title: Abortion and lamb mortality between pregnancy scanning and lamb marking for maiden ewes in southern Australia
Authors/Creators: T. Clune (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
A. Lockwood (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
S. Hancock (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
A.N. Thompson (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
S. Beetson (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
A.J.D. Campbell (Author/Creator) - The George Institute for Global Health
E. Glanville (Author/Creator) - The University of Melbourne
D. Brookes (Author/Creator) - The University of Melbourne
C. Trengove (Author/Creator) - The University of Adelaide
R. O’Handley (Author/Creator) - The University of Adelaide
G. Kearney (Author/Creator) - 36 Payne Road, Hamilton, VIC 3300, Australia
C. Jacobson (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
Publication Details: Animals, Vol.12(1), Art.10
Publisher: MDPI
Identifiers: 991005541204007891
Copyright: © 2021 by the authors
Murdoch Affiliation: Centre for Animal Production and Health; Food Futures Institute
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Citation topics: 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology; 3.51 Dairy & Animal Sciences; 3.51.115 Livestock Reproduction
Web Of Science research areas: Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science; Veterinary Sciences; Zoology
ESI research areas: Plant & Animal Science