Late pregnancy ewe feeding and lamb performance in early life. 2. Factors associated with perinatal lamb mortality

Abstract

Some factors affecting perinatal lamb mortality were studied with 63 Finn × Dorset Horn ewes and 85 Scottish Half bred and Greyface ewes, having an average litter size of 2·26. Total perinatal lamb mortality averaged 29 % of which 44% were stillborn, 1 % attributed to dystocia, 35 % died between birth and 48 h of age, 14 % from 48 h to 10 days, and 5 % after 10 days.For the Finn × Dorset ewes, the 41 viable twin lambs weighed at birth 3·47 kg and 12 twin lambs which did not survive weighed 2·51 kg. Triplet weights were: viable 2·98 kg (34 lambs) and nonsurviving 2·00 kg (14). Quadruplet weights were: viable 2·79 kg (12) and non-surviving 1·90 kg (16). Quintuplet and sextuplet weights were: viable 2·45 kg (2) and non-surviving 1·35 kg (14).In the aggregated Halfbred and Greyface breeds, viable twin lambs weighed 4·5 kg at birth (91) and non-surviving 3·64 kg (11). Viable triplets weighed 3·77 kg (23) and non-surviving 2·68 kg (16).Serum gamma-globulin and total serum protein values were lower in the lambs which failed to survive, and this was particularly marked with triplets. Fractionating the gamma-globulins (IgG) indicated that IgGi was particularly low in non-viable lambs.Litter size, lamb birth weight, and colostrum intake by the lamb had important effects on perinatal lamb mortality.

Effects of Induction of Parturition in Ewes with Dexamethasone or Oestrogen on Concentrations of Immunoglobulins in Colostrum, and Absorption of Immunoglobulins by Lambs

“…Roy (1980) noted that concentrations capable of providing protection against one pathogenic organism were insufficient against another. Associations between immunoglobulin concentration and mortality have been reported by Harker (1974), Ducker and Fraser (1973) and Khalaf et al (1979), but in all studies not all lambs with low concentrations died, nor did all with high levels survive.…”

Late pregnancy ewe feeding and lamb performance in early life. 1. Pregnancy feeding levels and perinatal lamb mortality

“…It is our experience that lambs with low circulating levels of IgGi and IgM will often survive if food supplies become adequate, and only in lambs with combined levels of less than 10 g/1 at 24 h of age can immunoglobulin levels and lamb mortality be directly related (Khalaf et al, 1979). When colostrum supplies are insufficient, IgGi and IgM levels are reduced, as these are the two major immunoglobulins supplied in colostrum.…”

“…Lamb management, methods of sampling, statistical comparisons, and the methods used to undertake total serum protein, gamma globulin, and immunoglobulin estimations were the same as those described by Khalaf, Doxey, Baxter, Black, FitzSimons and Ferguson (1979).…”

Effects of Rosmarinus officinalis L. essential oils supplementation on digestion, colostrum production of dairy ewes and lamb mortality and growth

“…Its increase is closely related to birth weight and an inadequate intake of colostrum increases lamb mortality (Khalaf et al 1979). Its increase is closely related to birth weight and an inadequate intake of colostrum increases lamb mortality (Khalaf et al 1979).…”

“…However, very few studies have been conducted on the effect of feeding herbal extracts on in vivo digestibility and on animal performances. Moreover, the nutrition of the ewes during late pregnancy influences the birth weight and the composition of the colostrum (Khalaf et al 1979); both parameters represent the principal factors acting on mortality of lambs, which generates important economic costs for sheep producers. The feeding of EO mixture increased the milk fat percentage but has no effect on production of milk and other milk components (Santos et al 2010).…”