Not AvailableThe magnitude of risk for neonatal mortality (NM) due
to non-genetic factors was assessed using data on 5,722
Malpura lambs born during 1991–2016 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 3.01–3.50 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. Dam’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 30–35
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 wasprimarily 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.Not Availabl
