Risk factor analysis for neonatal lamb mortality in Malpura sheep

C P SWARNKAR; G R GOWANE; L L L PRINCE; G G SONAWANE

doi:10.56093/ijans.v89i6.91121

Authors

C P SWARNKAR Scientist, ICAR-Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute, Avikanagar, Rajasthan 304 501 India
G R GOWANE Senior Scientist, ICAR-Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute, Avikanagar, Rajasthan 304 501 India
L L L PRINCE Senior Scientist, ICAR-Directorate on Poultry Research, Hyderabad, Telangana.
G G SONAWANE Principal Scientist, ICAR-Directorate on Poultry Research, Hyderabad, Telangana.

https://doi.org/10.56093/ijans.v89i6.91121

Keywords:

Malpura sheep, Neonatal mortality, Rajasthan, Risk factors

Abstract

The magnitude of risk for neonatal mortality (NM) due to non-genetic factors was assessed using data on 5,722 Malpura lambs born during 1991â€“2016 at ICAR-Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute, Avikanagar, Rajasthan. The association of non-genetic factors influencing lamb mortality was obtained by odds ratio (OR). The overall annual NM was 4.07% with around 3 times higher in hebdomadal (3.15%) than post-hebdomadal (0.93%) phase. In comparison to lambs with >3.50 kg birth weight, the OR varied from 2.03 (birth weight 3.01â€“3.50 kg) to 19.29 (birth weight <2.00 kg). Neonatal mortality was significantly higher (6.51%) in lambs born to younger ewes (up to 2 yr). The parity of dam had significant effect on NM with maximum mortality in lambs born to ewes in 1st (5.59%) parity. Damâ€™s weight at lambing revealed significantly maximum (32.35%) mortality in lambs born to ewes with <20.0 kg body weight. In comparison to ewes with 30â€“35 kg body weight at lambing, the OR for NM was maximum (17.28) in lambs born to ewes with <20.0 kg body weight at lambing. The causes of neonatal lamb mortality exhibited predominance of septicaemia/ toxaemia with 25.75% contribution in total deaths followed by neonatal inanition (21.89%), pneumonia (12.02) and enteritis (8.58%). The study revealed that NM during early phase of life was primarily influenced by both lamb and ewe factors. Strategies should be adopted for proper nutritional care of primiparous and weak ewes during gestation, intensive monitoring of lamb and ewes during the neonatal period with ensured colostrum or milk replacer feeding and suitable housing facility to minimize the neonatal losses.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Abdelqader A, Irshaid R, Tabbaa M J, Abuajamieh M, Titi H and Al-Fataftah A R. 2017. Factors influencing Awassi lambs survivorship under field conditions. Livestock Science 199: 1–6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2017.03.007

Ahmed A, Egwu G O, Garba H S and Magaji A A. 2010. Studies on risk factors of mortality in lambs in Sokoto, Nigeria. Nigerian Veterinary Journal 31: 56–65. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4314/nvj.v31i1.68939

Barazandeh A, Moghbeli S M, Vatankhah M and Hossein-Zadeh N G. 2012. Lamb survival analysis from birth to weaning in Iranian Kermani sheep. Tropical Animal Health and Production 44: 929–34. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-011-9990-2

Berhan A and Van Arendonk J. 2006. Reproductive performance and mortality rate in Menz and Horro sheep following controlled breeding in Ethiopia. Small Ruminant Research 63: 297–303. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2005.03.003

Bernal A L. 2001. Overview of current research in parturition. Experimental Physiology 86: 213–22. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1113/eph8602178

Binns S H, Cox I J, Rizvi S and Greena L E. 2002. Risk factors for lamb mortality on UK sheep farms. Preventive Veterinary Medicine 52: 287–303. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0167-5877(01)00255-0

Clarke L, Bryant M J, Lomax M A and Symonds M E. 1997. Maternal manipulation of brown adipose tissue and liver development in the ovine fetus during late gestation. British Journal of Nutrition 77: 871–83. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1079/BJN19970086

Dalton D C, Knight T W and Johnson D L. 1980. Lamb survival in sheep breeds in New Zealand hill country. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 23: 167–73. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00288233.1980.10430783

Dwyer C M. 2008. The welfare of the neonatal lamb. Small Ruminant Research 76: 31–41. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2007.12.011

Dwyer C M and Lawrence A B. 2005. A review of the behavioural and physiological adaptations of extensively managed breeds of sheep that favour lamb survival. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 92: 235–60. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2005.05.010

Dwyer C M and Morgan C A. 2006. Maintenance of body temperature in the neonatal lamb: effects of breed, birth weight and litter size. Journal of Animal Science 84: 1093–101. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2527/2006.8451093x

Dwyer C M, Calvert S K, Farish M, Donbavand J and Pickup H E. 2005. Breed, litter and parity differences in the morphology of the ovine placenta and developmental consequences for the lamb. Theriogenology 63: 1092–110. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2004.06.003

Dwyer C M, Lawrence A B and Bishop S C. 2001. The effects of selection for lean tissue content on maternal and neonatal lamb behaviours in Scottish Blackface sheep. Animal Science 72: 555–71. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1357729800052097

Eales F A, Gilmour J S, Barlow R M and Small J. 1982. Causes of hypothermia in 89 lambs. Veterinary Record 110: 118–20. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.110.6.118

Fogarty N M, Hopkins D L and van de Ven R. 2000. Lamb production from diverse genotypes. 1. Lamb growth and survival and ewe performance. Animal Science 70: 135–45. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1357729800051675

Gokcea E, Atakisib O, Kirmizigula A H, Unverc A and Erdogan H M. 2014. Passive immunity in lambs: Serum lactoferrin concentrations as a predictor of IgG concentration and its relation to health status from birth to 12 weeks of life. Small Ruminant Research 116: 219–28. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2013.11.006

Gowane G R, Chopra A, Prakash V and Arora A L. 2010. Estimates of (co) variance components and genetic parameters for body weights and first greasy fleece weight in Malpura sheep. Livestock Science 131: 94–101. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2010.03.006

Gowane G R, Swarnkar C P, Prince L L L and Kumar Arun. 2018. Genetic parameters for neonatal mortality in lambs at semi- arid region of Rajasthan India. Livestock Science 210: 85–92. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2018.02.003

Haughey K C. 1991. Perinatal lamb mortality its investigation, causes and control. Journal of South African Veterinary Association 62: 78–91. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/jsava.v62i2.1599

Mandal A, Prasad H, Kumar A, Roy R and Sharma N. 2007. Factors associated with lamb mortalities in Muzaffarnagari sheep. Small Ruminant Research 71: 273–79. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2006.07.010

Morris C A, Hickey S M and Clarke J N. 2000. Genetic and environmental factors affecting lamb survival at birth and through to weaning. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 43: 515–24. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00288233.2000.9513448

Mousa-Balabel T M. 2010. The relationship between sheep management and lamb mortality. World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology 41: 1201–06.

Mukasa-Mugerwa E, Lahlou-Kassi A, Anindo D, Rege J E O, Tembely S, Tobbo M and Baker R L. 2000. Between and within breed variation in lamb survival and the risk factors associated with major causes of mortality in indigenous Horro and Menze sheep in Ethiopia. Small Ruminant Research 37: 1–12. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0921-4488(99)00152-2

Osteras O, Gjestvang M S, Vatn S and Solverod L. 2007. Perinatal death in production animals in the Nordic countries – incidence and costs. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 49: S1-S14. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1751-0147-49-S1-S14

Radostits O M, Leslie K E and Fetrow J. 1994. Herd Health: Food Animal Production Medicine. 2nd edn. WB Sanders Co., Philadelphia. pp. 527–606.

Refshauge G, Brien F D, Hinch G N and van de Ven R. 2016. Neonatal lamb mortality: factors associated with the death of Australian lambs. Animal Production Science 56: 726–35. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1071/AN15121

Sawalha R M, Conington J, Brotherstone S and Villanueva B. 2007. Analyses of lamb survival of Scottish Black face sheep. Animal 1: 151–57. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1751731107340056

Sharif L, Obeidat J and Al-Ani F. 2005. Risk factors for lamb and kid mortality in sheep and goat farms in Jordan. Bulgarian Journal of Veterinary Medicine 8: 99–108.

Swarnkar C P and Singh D. 2010. Questionnaire survey on sheep husbandry and worm management practices adopted by farmers in Rajasthan. Indian Journal of Small Ruminants 16: 199–209.

Turkson P K and Sualisu M. 2005. Risk factors for lamb mortality in Sahelian sheep on a breeding station in Ghana. Tropical Animal Health and Production 37: 49–64. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:TROP.0000047935.78168.46

Vatankhah M and Talebi M A. 2009. Genetic and non-genetic factors affecting mortality in Lori-Bakhtiari lambs. Asian Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences 22: 459–64. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5713/ajas.2009.80318