An epidemiological study of sheep deaths before and during export by sea from Western Australia [live exports]
1989
Norris, R.T. | Richards, R.B. | Dunlop, R.H. (Western Australian Dept. of Agriculture. Animal Health Div.)
5 cohorts of sheep arriving at feedlots before shipment to the Middle East, of size ranging from 4,118 to 9,612 wethers from 15 to 35 farms, were studied. Most deaths occurred aboard ship, indicating that handling during trucking and feed-lotting are satisfactory. Adjustment of sheep to pellet diets during the feedlot period was high, except when hay was offered as an alternative. Half of the shipboard deaths occurred in 25 percent of lines of particular farm-origin, indicating that overall mortality could be reduced by identifying high-risk lines before purchase.
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