Shade and shelter may provide protection from cold heat stress, a source of feed during prolonged or seasonal drought, specific essential nutrients, increased pasture crop production improved landscape health. Cold stress contributes to the average 8% (single) 24% (twin) lambs that die within 3 days birth in Australia estimated 0.7% Australian flock post-shearing extreme unseasonal weather. Shelter has resulted an reduction mortality 17.5% for twin-born 7% single-born according studies...

Abstract Lamb survival is an important welfare and productivity issue for sheep industries worldwide. Lower lamb has been reported primiparous ewes, but the causes of this are not well studied. The aim study was to determine perinatal deaths lambs born ewes in Western Australia, identify if infectious diseases implicated. mortality from birth marking were determined 11 ewe flocks on 10 farms Australia. averaged 14% single-born 26% multiple-born lambs. necropsies ( n = 298) identified...

Key points Reduced size at birth and shorter gestation length are both associated with increased risks of non‐communicable diseases (NCD) in later adult life. Twins born smaller earlier than singletons twins also reported to be risk common NCDs such as diabetes. The has been presumed due a lack intrauterine space and/or limitations placental nutrient supply late gestation, but there few data support this. We show that fat mass twin sheep determined largely early gestation. Knowledge the...

Grazing vegetative wheat, barley and oats (both dual-purpose traditional spring varieties) is becoming an important strategic tactical grazing option on farms where crops livestock co-exist. The high winter growth rates of the offer opportunity to fill feed gap nutritive value (metabolisable energy crude protein) makes them well suited meet requirements reproducing ewes. However, metabolic disorders have been reported many producers avoid these with ewes because risk. present study aimed...

The contribution of abortions to the overall mortality lambs born maiden (primiparous) ewes in Australia remains unclear. This cohort study aimed quantify abortion and lamb for ewe Merino two-tooth ewes. Lamb from pregnancy scanning marking were determined 19 11 flocks across southern Australia. Average was 35.8% (range 14.3-71.1%) 29.4% 19.7-52.7%) Mid-pregnancy detected 5.7% 0-50%) 0.9% 0-4.4%) flocks. affecting ≥2% observed 6/19 2/11 birth represented greatest contributor foetal after...

Grazing vegetative wheat, barley and oats (both dual-purpose traditional spring varieties) is becoming an important strategic tactical grazing option on farms where crops livestock coexist. However, metabolic disorders have been reported many producers avoid these with reproducing ewes because of the risk. A recent survey 18 pregnant indicated a high proportion grazed had forage calcium (Ca), sodium (Na) magnesium (Mg) below published requirements potassium (K) above maximum tolerable level....

Suboptimal reproductive performance of maiden (primiparous) ewes remains a source inefficiency for the Australian sheep industry. However, extent and causes poorer on farms are not well understood. Here, we show relative to their multiparous counterparts same across Australia using cohort survey. The difference in marking rate non-Merino ewe lambs compared was 58% (74 vs. 132%; p < 0.001), this attributable 50% (109 159%; 0.001) 16% lamb survival (67 83%; 0.001). Merino two-tooth lambing...

Wool growth in Merino sheep demands a high level of sulphur amino acids, competing with body and the immune system, which may play role increasing risk lamb mortality. The hypothesis that dietary supplementation methionine (Met) to ewes during late stages pregnancy will improve foetal alter competency lambs was tested total 120 grazing, pregnant ewes. Sixty were group-supplemented 6.3 g/d rumen-protected Met (Met-Plus) per from day 111 until 7 after lambing, other 60 animals used as...

This study evaluated the impacts of management body condition score (BCS) between pregnancy scanning and lamb marking on mortality triplet-bearing ewes their lambs at 19 research sites across Southern Australia. Triplet-bearing Maternal (crossbred or composite) Merino breed were randomly allocated to treatment an average 97 days from start joining: High Low BCS. The BCS individual was assessed scanning, pre-lambing (average 137 joining) 165 end joining), ewe marking, recorded for each mob....

Limited research has suggested that higher lambing densities increase interference from foreign ewes at which disrupts the ewe-lamb bond and compromises lamb survival. This may be particularly evident in mobs of twin-bearing compared to single-bearing because a greater number lambs are born per day. Therefore, we hypothesised that; (i) decreasing mob size impact on survival twin-born than single-born lambs; (ii) relationship between can explained by differences rate interaction with lambing;...

Higher stocking rates of lambing ewes have been associated with poorer ewe-lamb behaviour and lamb survival. This study tested the hypothesis that increasing mob size rate on commercial farms will reduce survival their lambs. Data were collected from 66 producers in Australia for Experiment one 22 New Zealand two. Survival single- twin-born lambs decreased by 1.4% 3.5% per extra 100 mob, regardless breed, one. The Merino two 0.9% birth type. Increasing 1 ewe/ha also 0.7% However, this was...

High lamb mortality continues to be a significant economic and welfare problem within the Australian sheep industry, with 20–30% of lambs born in commercial flocks dying mostly 3 days birth. Clinical hypocalcaemia hypomagnesaemia cause ewe mortality, and, subsequently, either fetal or death, but it is not known whether subclinical deficiencies calcium (Ca) magnesium (Mg) compromise survival. This review considers potential mechanisms through which Ca Mg may influence survival, factors...

Vitamin E and selenium have been reported to improve immune function across a range of species. Ewes lambing on poor-quality dry pasture in autumn Western Australia are at risk being deficient vitamin thus predisposing their lambs deficiencies increasing the infection disease. This study tested hypotheses that (i) supplementation autumn-lambing ewes with plus late gestation will increase concentrations plasma ewe lamb (ii) increased innate adaptive responses survival. Pregnant Merino were...

Industry consultation in Australia revealed that the potential impact of mob size ewes during lambing on survival triplet-born lambs was an important research priority. Previous has demonstrated smaller sizes at improve single- and especially twin-born lambs, regardless ewe stocking rate. Therefore, we hypothesised triplet-bearing mobs, rate, will increase their lambs. Research sites were established 12 commercial sheep farms across southern between 2019 2021. One farm used Merinos whilst...

Abstract Background Toxoplasma gondii causes reproductive losses in sheep worldwide, including Australia. The performance of primiparous ewes is typically lower than for mature, multiparous ewes, and younger are more likely to be immunologically naïve therefore susceptible disease if T. infection occurs during pregnancy. aim this study was assess the impact with on southern Australia using a prospective cohort study. This will inform need targeted control strategies Australian sheep. Results...

During pregnancy, ewes graze pastures that may be marginal in calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg), also low sodium (Na) high potassium (K), with a dietary cation–anion difference. Such increase susceptibility to hypocalcaemia hypomagnesaemia, leading lamb losses. Clinical hypomagnesaemia do occur Australian sheep; however, it is unknown whether subclinical forms of these disorders compromise ewe or health survival. The present study monitored the Ca Mg status late so as evaluate risk mineral...

Context Data collected from producers in south-eastern Australia found that the survival of twin-born lambs decreased by 3.5% for each extra 100 ewes mob at lambing. Increasing stocking rate 1 ewe/ha lamb a further 0.7%. These survey findings suggest could be improved optimising allocation to mobs and paddocks Aim The present paper reports two experiments. Experiment tested hypotheses (1) would greater when smaller lower rates, (2) effects size Merinos than non-Merino breeds. 2 hypothesis...

Flystrike costs the Australian industry $173 to 280 M per annum and 70% 80% of Merino lambs are currently mulesed reduce risk flystrike. To alleviate welfare concerns there has been widespread adoption analgesics mitigate pain associated with mulesing. The objective this experiment was determine effectiveness Tri-Solfen® meloxicam (Metacam® 20) at reducing pain-related behavioural responses mulesing in lambs. One hundred forty were allocated one seven treatment groups: (1) non-mulesed...

Functional deficiencies of the immune system are known to predispose human and animal neonates death. Thus, competency may be a significant factor influencing mortality lambs. Vitamin D has been recognised improve function is transferred across placenta. This study tested hypotheses that (1) supplementation Merino ewes with cholecalciferol during late pregnancy will increase concentrations vitamin in ewe lamb at birth (2) correlated an innate phagocytic adaptive antibody responses lamb. (n =...

Context Clinical deficiencies of calcium and magnesium may result in the metabolic disorders hypocalcaemia hypomagnesaemia, resulting ewe lamb mortality. However, contribution subclinical to perinatal mortality grazing flocks is unclear. Aims To test hypothesis that supplementation during lambing period would increase survival marking age. Methods In 2017, an on-farm study used five across New South Wales, Australia Western Australia. On each farm, twin-bearing mature Merino ewes (n =...