Lamb mortality in the Neudamm Karakul Stud:

Lamb mortality in the Neudamm Karakul Stud was recorded and analysed for time and cause of pre- and postnatal losses for all lambs born between April 1969 and December 1970. It was found that 29,2% of total losses occur prenatally and that 85% of these were stillborn.  After marking which occurred within 24 hours of birth, an average of 39,6% of lambs were culled and pelted. On the average 8,9% of marked lambs were lost till weaning ( ± 3 months) whereas 11,7% of losses occur to one year of age. On the average 82,9% of all lambs that were marked and kept for breeding purposes survived up to one year of age. The influence of birth mass of lambs and age of dam on mortality rate of lambs was analysed. It was concluded that all marked lambs already represent a selected group and as such should reach mating age (one year) at all costs, so as to obtain maximum gain from initial selection at birth. Furthermore, young ewes are more prone to loss of lambs (35 % of total losses) and should therefore receive preferential treatment. Managerial practises, such as creep-feeding of lambs; supervision of ewes pre and post-partum, small camps and supplementary feeding should be implemented to further this aim.