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A Study of Lamb Mortality in a Western Range Flock. I. Autopsy Findings on 1051 Lambs¹

Montana Agricultural Experiment Station, Bozeman

Abstract

During a three-year period, 7191 lambs were born to ewes in the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station range flocks. Twenty-three and one-half percent (1693) of the lambs died between birth and weaning. Sixty-two percent of the lambs dying were autopsied. Seventy-two and one-tenth percent (758) of the deaths were placed in five principal categories as a result of the autopsy findings. These major classifications were pneumonia, 16%; starvation, 13.8%; no visible lesions, 15.8%; stillbirths. 14.3% and dysentery, 11.8%. Other causes of death of significant importance were delayed parturition, prepartum death, liver rupture, enterotoxemia, hemorrhagic enteritis, umbilical hemorrhage, and navel infection. Liver rupture and umbilical hemorrhage were unexpected findings as causes of death in newborn lambs.

The average age at death of the 1051 lambs examined was 5.9 days. Fifty-six percent of the lambs died within the first 3 days of life and 73 % within the first 5 days.

¹ From the Montana Veterinary Research Laboratory (Montana Agricultural Experiment Station and Livestock Sanitary Board cooperating), and the Animal Industry and Range Management Department, Montana State College. Paper No. 469 journal series.

² Present address; State Veterinarian, Montana Livestock Sanitary Board, Helena, Montana.

³ Animal Industry and Range Management Department.