Neonatal mortality in small ruminant livestock has remained stubbornly unchanging over the
past 40 years, and represents a significant loss of farm income, contributes to wastage and …

New-born lambs have limited energy reserves and need a rapid access to colostrum to
maintain homeothermy and survive. In addition to energy, colostrum provides …

This review aims to describe the nutritional and non-nutritional factors that may affect
parturition and dystocia in sheep. Dystocia is associated with fetopelvic disproportion …

This thesis is based on seven related studies on Ethiopian indigenous Horro and Menz
sheep breeds and crossbreds of Menz with exotic breeds to test the general hypothesis that …

The single largest influence on the survival of lambs in the first few days of life is their
birthweight. Fetal growth and birthweight are regulated by genotype of the fetus, maternal …

The neonatal period is the most vulnerable time in the life of a lamb, with almost half of all
pre-weaning mortalities occurring on the day of birth. The welfare challenges faced by the …

Extensively managed animals, often living in harsh and unfavourable environments, need
specific adaptations that promote survivability. This is particularly important at parturition and …

Lamb survival is impaired in low birth weight lambs, and those that are slow to stand and
suck. Many of the factors that influence lamb vigour, such as parity, litter size, and breed …

To survive, the newborn lamb must be able to maintain body temperature and to stand and
move to the udder to suck colostrum to fuel heat production. The objective of this study was …

Parental care promotes offspring survival and, for livestock species, this care is provided
solely by the mother. Maternal behaviour in the sheep has been exceptionally well-studied …