Title: MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS AT LAMBING AND LAMB SURVIVAL IN SOUTH AUSTRALIAN MERINO EWES
Abstract: Lamb survival under normal management was superior to that in the newly devised system (P < 0.01). The interaction between treatment and litter size was not significant (P < 0.05). Lower lamb survival of the ‘new management’ group was partly due to increased ewe mortality, particularly of twinbearing ewes (P < 0.05). Possible reasons for poor lamb survival are low body condition of the ewes prior to lambing, and an extended lambing period resulting in an inability of cereal hay to provide adequate nutrition. Further studies on the present treatments are required and should (i) incorporate the ‘ram effect’ to synchronise lambing and (ii) investigate the importance of ewe body condition prior to lambing on lamb survival.
Publication Year: 1992
Publication Date: 1992-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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