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PRENATAL LOSSES IN BORDER LEICESTER‐MERINO CROSS EWES IN VICTORIA
Author(s) -
Can D. J.,
Bath J. G.
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
australian veterinary journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.382
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1751-0813
pISSN - 0005-0423
DOI - 10.1111/j.1751-0813.1971.tb15504.x
Subject(s) - flock , zoology , biology , sheep farming , animal production , ecology
Summary Systematic observations of the incidence of failure to mate, return to service, failure to lamb, and twin births in Border Leicester X Merino ewes were made in north eastern Victoria on 1,276 maiden ewes of five flocks and on 193–138 ewes of one of these flocks in a further six consecutive years. Almost all ewes mated when joined with rams in summer, and of these 80–97% lambed and 3–17% bore twins. Mean minimum wastage of ova varied from 9 to 35% in the different flocks. More twins were born to older ewes, but in other aspects of reproductive performance there was little difference between maiden and older ewes.