A Survey of New South Wales Sheep Producer Practices and Perceptions on Lamb Mortality and Ewe Supplementation

Kopp, Kayla; Hernández‐Jover, Marta; Robertson, Susan; Abuelo, Ãngel; Friend, Michael

doi:10.3390/ani10091586

Cited by 10 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…National lamb marking rates reported by Meat and Livestock Australia (2019) were 82% for Merinos and 108% for non-Merinos. The somewhat higher percentages reported by respondents in this study suggests that some producers may be overestimating lamb marking and lamb survival rates, which corresponds with conclusions found in other studies (Kubeil 2017;Munoz et al 2019;Kopp et al 2020). Lamb marking percentages reported by respondents are presented in Table 1.…”

Section: Production Characteristics and Demographicssupporting

confidence: 88%

New South Wales sheep producers’ perceptions regarding lamb mortality and the adoption of pregnancy scanning

Hobbs

Mounter²

2023

Anim. Prod. Sci.

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Context. Proven strategies to address lamb mortality include pregnancy scanning and the differential management of single-and twin-bearing ewes. However, current adoption rates of this best-practice management by Australian producers remain low at ~20%. Aims. We explored producer perceptions about lamb mortality and the adoption of pregnancy scanning, and analysed whether producer characteristics, demographics, beliefs or management practices have an influence on perceptions towards pregnancy scanning or lamb survival. Methods. Data were collected through an on-line self-administered survey of lamb producers in New South Wales, Australia. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to summarise the data and test for interdependence of variables. Key results. The survey results revealed that New South Wales sheep producers have low participation rates in extension programs and low engagement in record-keeping practices. Only 4% of respondents considered current lamb mortality rates acceptable and the majority agreed that lamb mortality poses a threat to Australia's sheep industry. Findings identified numerous significant relationships between producer characteristics, demographics, beliefs, management practices, non-participation in extension programs, and perceptions towards pregnancy scanning, lamb mortality and sheep welfare. Survey participants were more likely to have adopted pregnancy scanning if they had participated in extension programs. Conclusions. Further extension efforts should be focused on producers who have not adopted any record-keeping practices or previously participated in extension programs. Extension should be tailored to different enterprises, owing to the influence of enterprise focus on beliefs, while also considering producer demographics. Implications. A strong case exists for continued investment in future marketing, education, and research, development and extension to increase the capacity of Australia's sheep industry and, in particular, to increase the adoption of pregnancy scanning.

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Section: Production Characteristics and Demographicssupporting

confidence: 88%

New South Wales sheep producers’ perceptions regarding lamb mortality and the adoption of pregnancy scanning

Hobbs

Mounter²

2023

Anim. Prod. Sci.

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“…As the majority of the farmers in the current study lambed indoors and the ewes and their lambs were not turned out to pasture until a few days post partum, it is unlikely that predators would be the main cause of lamb mortality even though farmers believed they were. However, farmers tend to choose issues/factors that they have no control over (e.g., predators and weather) rather than those that they do (e.g., birth weight, disease), which is similar to a recent study in Australia where farmers overestimated predation at three times more likely to be the primary cause of mortality than the published data [ 35 ].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 55%

“…While lamb mortality is a key factor influencing ewe productivity, thus flock profitability, most farmers in this study did not record lamb mortality. A recent survey study in Australia of sheep farmers’ perceptions of lamb mortality reported that producers may be largely underestimating their mortality incidence compared to experimental studies of similar breeds and using similar management practices [ 35 ]. However, in the current study, when asked to provide the number of lambs that died on the farm, there was little difference in numbers between the farmers who recorded lamb mortality and those who did not.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Survey of Farm Management Practices Relating to the Risk Factors, Prevalence, and Causes of Lamb Mortality in Ireland

Shiels

Loughrey

Dwyer

et al. 2021

Animals

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Lamb mortality is a key factor influencing ewe productivity and profitability. The current study investigated risk factors associated with and management practices implemented on sheep farms to reduce lamb mortality. A survey consisting of 13 multiple-part questions (57 separate questions) was administered to all sheep farmers participating in the Teagasc National Farm Survey, representative of the Irish national population of sheep farms. A total of 60% of respondents identify mating or lambing date, and this practice tended to be associated with reduced lamb mortality (1.2%, p = 0.08). Individual lambing pens were used by 88% of farmers, but 26% did not clean or disinfect them. A total of 79% and 9.5% of farmers applied iodine to all lambs’ navels and administered antibiotics to all lambs to treat and/or prevent diseases, respectively. Most farmers vaccinated their ewes (86%) and lambs (79%) against clostridial diseases and/or pasteurellosis; 13% vaccinated against abortion agents. Lamb mortality tended to be lower (Kruskal–Wallis (KW) = 2.749; p = 0.09) on farms that used stomach tubing, heat box, iodine, hospital, and individual pens compared with farms that do not implement all those practices. Predators, lamb birth weight, and diseases were perceived by respondents to be the three main causes of live-born lamb mortality. The gross margin is significantly higher on lowland farms by €37 per ewe compared with hill farms (Kruskal–Wallis (KW) = 4.056; p < 0.001). The combination of full-time farming and the use of hospital and individual pens improved gross margin (€18/ewe, p = 0.028). It is concluded that on-farm management practices affect both lamb mortality and flock gross margin.

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“…El 70.59% de las muertes ocurrió durante las primeras 48 horas posteriores al parto siendo el síndrome de inanición exposición la principal causa de mortalidad general y pre-destete y la fotosensibilización hepatógena la principal causa de muerte post-destete (Tabla 1). Diversos estudios realizados en la misma región de estudio (Macedo et al, 2010) y en diversas partes del mundo (Tifashe et al, 2017;Kopp et al, 2020) coinciden en que el síndrome de inaniciónexposición representó la principal causa de muerte de los corderos. Llama la atención la ausencia de muertes ocasionadas por infecciones de diversos tipos, las cuales se documentan como la principal causa de muerte en estudios recientes (Murray et al, 2019;Mlimbe et al, 2020;Tesema et al, 2020).…”

Section: Resultados Y Discusiónunclassified

Una Nota Sobre La Mortalidad De Corderos Merino Isla Socorro

Macedo

Maldonado

Arredondo

et al. 2022

Trop Subtrop Agroecosyst

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Background. The Socorro Island Merino sheep constitutes a unique population in the world whose number is reduced to less than a hundred individuals, thus facing an imminent risk of extinction. Objective. The objective of this study was to analyze the causes and risk factors associated with the mortality of Socorro Island Merino lambs. Methodology. The rate and causes of mortality were determined and the association between mortality and weight, year of birth, sex, genotype of the lamb and the number of lambing of the ewe was determined by Chi-square test. Subsequently, a logistic regression analysis was performed using only those variables significantly associated with mortality. Results. Mortality rate was 29.31%. The 70.59% of deaths occurred during the first 48 hours after lambing being starvation the main cause of death. Mortality was associated (P<0.05) with the lambs’ year birth and the number of lambing of the ewe, while birth weight, sex and genotype were not related (P>0.05) with death of the lambs. According to the logistic regression analysis, lambs born in 2020 and born to a multiparous ewe had an 83 and 74% lower risk of death than those born in 2019 and to a primiparous ewe, respectively. Implications. The use of professionally qualified personnel and the establishment of good zootechnical management practices significantly reduces lamb mortality. Conclusions. Starvation represented the main cause of death, while the year of birth of the lamb and the number of lambing of the ewe were the risk factors associated with mortality.

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A Survey of New South Wales Sheep Producer Practices and Perceptions on Lamb Mortality and Ewe Supplementation

Cited by 10 publications

References 35 publications

New South Wales sheep producers’ perceptions regarding lamb mortality and the adoption of pregnancy scanning

New South Wales sheep producers’ perceptions regarding lamb mortality and the adoption of pregnancy scanning

A Survey of Farm Management Practices Relating to the Risk Factors, Prevalence, and Causes of Lamb Mortality in Ireland

Una Nota Sobre La Mortalidad De Corderos Merino Isla Socorro

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