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A note on the effects of dexamethasone-induced parturition on ewe behaviour and lamb survival in prolific Booroola Merino ewes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

J. L. Owens ,
B. M. Bindon ,
T. N. Edey  and
L. R. Piper
J. L. Owens
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia
B. M. Bindon
Affiliation:
CSIRO Division of Animal Production, Armidale, NSW, Australia
T. N. Edey
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia
L. R. Piper
Affiliation:
CSIRO Division of Animal Production, Armidale, NSW, Australia
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Abstract

Normal and dexamethasone-induced parturition were compared in Merino and prolific Booroola Merinos carrying crossbred foetuses. Behavioural observations were recorded for 42 single-, 27 twin- and 10 triplet-bearing ewes. After treatment on day 144 of gestation, ewes injected with dexamethasone lambed 41 h earlier than ewes injected with phosphate buffer. On the phosphate-buffer treatment, Booroola Merino ewes lambed 22 h earlier than Merino ewes. Twin- and triplet-bearing ewes which were induced to lamb had a significantly longer duration of labour than ewes bearing singles which were induced to lamb, and ewes, regardless of litter size, which lambed naturally. Induction of parturition had no significant effect on the lambs' behaviour subsequently. Lamb survival was not influenced by dexamethasone treatment but was significantly influenced by lamb birth weight, which declined as litter size increased.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 41 , Issue 3 , December 1985 , pp. 417 - 420
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1985

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References

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