Mortality of lambs in free‐ranging domestic sheep ( Ovis aries) in northern Norway
Abstract Domestic lamb mortality on an open forested and alpine summer range in the municipality of Målselv in northern Norway was investigated. Two hundred and fifty‐three lambs in four of the area's six flocks were randomly fitted with mortality transmitters and monitored throughout the summe...
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crwiley:10.1017/s095283690100070x 2024-06-02T08:07:43+00:00 Mortality of lambs in free‐ranging domestic sheep ( Ovis aries) in northern Norway Warren, Jerry T. Mysterud, Ivar Lynnebakken, Torun 2001 http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s095283690100070x https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1017%2FS095283690100070X https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1017/S095283690100070X https://zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1017/S095283690100070X en eng Wiley http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor Journal of Zoology volume 254, issue 2, page 195-202 ISSN 0952-8369 1469-7998 journal-article 2001 crwiley https://doi.org/10.1017/s095283690100070x 2024-05-03T11:51:18Z Abstract Domestic lamb mortality on an open forested and alpine summer range in the municipality of Målselv in northern Norway was investigated. Two hundred and fifty‐three lambs in four of the area's six flocks were randomly fitted with mortality transmitters and monitored throughout the summer grazing season from June to September. Total losses in the six flocks were 183 (22.9%) lambs and 20 (4.2%) ewes. The carcasses of 69 lambs, 36 of which had radio‐collars, and six ewes were recovered. Of the collared lambs, eight (22%) died as a result of disease and 27 (75%) were killed by predators. Implicated predators included red fox Vulpes vulpes , lynx Lynx lynx , golden eagle Aquila chrysaetos and wolverine Gulo gulo . Diseased animals included those diagnosed with pasteurellosis, disrupted intestinal functions and advanced coccidiosis. The remains of one lamb were too decomposed for necropsy, though there was no evidence that it had been attacked by a predator. Factors associated with losses were identified using logistic regression. Age of lamb at time of release on the summer range and age of dam were statistically associated with lamb losses ( P <0.05). Mortality was higher among older lambs and those of year‐old ewes. Parameters commonly associated with lamb size and growth were not statistically associated with mortality. The negative association between lamb mortality and age of dam may be related to the quality of maternal care provided by ewes of different ages, particularly vigilance in the habitat of predators. Similarly, the positive association between mortality and age of lamb may be related to changing lamb behaviour, specifically increased distance from ewe, as lambs grow older and more independent. Predators, when present, are a major cause of mortality in free‐ranging lambs, as in most wild ungulates. Article in Journal/Newspaper Gulo gulo Målselv Northern Norway Aquila chrysaetos golden eagle Lynx Lynx lynx lynx Wiley Online Library Målselv ENVELOPE(18.615,18.615,69.124,69.124) Norway Journal of Zoology 254 2 195 202 |
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Wiley Online Library |
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crwiley |
language |
English |
description |
Abstract Domestic lamb mortality on an open forested and alpine summer range in the municipality of Målselv in northern Norway was investigated. Two hundred and fifty‐three lambs in four of the area's six flocks were randomly fitted with mortality transmitters and monitored throughout the summer grazing season from June to September. Total losses in the six flocks were 183 (22.9%) lambs and 20 (4.2%) ewes. The carcasses of 69 lambs, 36 of which had radio‐collars, and six ewes were recovered. Of the collared lambs, eight (22%) died as a result of disease and 27 (75%) were killed by predators. Implicated predators included red fox Vulpes vulpes , lynx Lynx lynx , golden eagle Aquila chrysaetos and wolverine Gulo gulo . Diseased animals included those diagnosed with pasteurellosis, disrupted intestinal functions and advanced coccidiosis. The remains of one lamb were too decomposed for necropsy, though there was no evidence that it had been attacked by a predator. Factors associated with losses were identified using logistic regression. Age of lamb at time of release on the summer range and age of dam were statistically associated with lamb losses ( P <0.05). Mortality was higher among older lambs and those of year‐old ewes. Parameters commonly associated with lamb size and growth were not statistically associated with mortality. The negative association between lamb mortality and age of dam may be related to the quality of maternal care provided by ewes of different ages, particularly vigilance in the habitat of predators. Similarly, the positive association between mortality and age of lamb may be related to changing lamb behaviour, specifically increased distance from ewe, as lambs grow older and more independent. Predators, when present, are a major cause of mortality in free‐ranging lambs, as in most wild ungulates. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Warren, Jerry T. Mysterud, Ivar Lynnebakken, Torun |
spellingShingle |
Warren, Jerry T. Mysterud, Ivar Lynnebakken, Torun Mortality of lambs in free‐ranging domestic sheep ( Ovis aries) in northern Norway |
author_facet |
Warren, Jerry T. Mysterud, Ivar Lynnebakken, Torun |
author_sort |
Warren, Jerry T. |
title |
Mortality of lambs in free‐ranging domestic sheep ( Ovis aries) in northern Norway |
title_short |
Mortality of lambs in free‐ranging domestic sheep ( Ovis aries) in northern Norway |
title_full |
Mortality of lambs in free‐ranging domestic sheep ( Ovis aries) in northern Norway |
title_fullStr |
Mortality of lambs in free‐ranging domestic sheep ( Ovis aries) in northern Norway |
title_full_unstemmed |
Mortality of lambs in free‐ranging domestic sheep ( Ovis aries) in northern Norway |
title_sort |
mortality of lambs in free‐ranging domestic sheep ( ovis aries) in northern norway |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
2001 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s095283690100070x https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1017%2FS095283690100070X https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1017/S095283690100070X https://zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1017/S095283690100070X |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(18.615,18.615,69.124,69.124) |
geographic |
Målselv Norway |
geographic_facet |
Målselv Norway |
genre |
Gulo gulo Målselv Northern Norway Aquila chrysaetos golden eagle Lynx Lynx lynx lynx |
genre_facet |
Gulo gulo Målselv Northern Norway Aquila chrysaetos golden eagle Lynx Lynx lynx lynx |
op_source |
Journal of Zoology volume 254, issue 2, page 195-202 ISSN 0952-8369 1469-7998 |
op_rights |
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1017/s095283690100070x |
container_title |
Journal of Zoology |
container_volume |
254 |
container_issue |
2 |
container_start_page |
195 |
op_container_end_page |
202 |
_version_ |
1800752837344362496 |