The magnitude of reproductive wastage to lamb marking in 30 Merino flocks in south-west Queensland.
Thirty groups of Merino ewes in 6 districts of south-west Queensland were studied between 1976 and 1985 to determine the magnitude of reproductive wastage to lamb making. Relatively high pregnancy rates (77 to 100%, mean 93%) and a wide range of lamb marking percentages (10 to 115%, mean 78%) were recorded. The mean reproductive wastage due to failure to mate and failure to lamb was low (1.6 and 3.4% respectively) in 8 flocks where harnessed rams were used. This indicated that loss of lambs from birth to lamb making was the major cause of reproductive wastage in most years.
Department of Primary Industries, Roma, Queensland.
D J
DJ
Jordan
D M
DM
Orr
N P
NP
McMeniman
L B
LB
Dunlop
C J
CJ
Evenson
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D011247:Pregnancy; D011793:Queensland; D012621:Seasons; D012756:Sheep / Q000502:physiology*