Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39375187›Full record

ArticleAustralian veterinary journal2024

Peri-parturient ewe mortality in commercial, southern Australian, non-Merino ewe flocks: establishing the frequency and investigating causes.

M C McQuillan, E Glanville, C Jacobson, L Sherriff, D M McGill, A Whale, M B Allworth

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Australian veterinary journal, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

M C McQuillanFred Morley Centre, School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, 2678, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5924-0824
E GlanvilleFaculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
C JacobsonCentre for Animal Production and Health, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia.
L SherriffPinion Advisory, 25 York Street, Launceston, Tasmania, 7250, Australia.
D M McGillFaculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
A WhaleLivestock Logic, 60 Portland Road, Hamilton, Victoria, 3300, Australia.
M B AllworthFred Morley Centre, School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, 2678, Australia.

Funding

Meat and Livestock Australia L.LSM 0019
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe level and cause of ewe mortality over the peri-parturient period is poorly understood in Australia. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of peri-parturient ewe mortality and investigate the causes of death in commercial, non-Merino ewes over the peri-parturient period.

methodsAn observational study involving 50 commercial, non-Merino farms across southern Australia during two lambing seasons was conducted. The study population was the breeding flock of ewes on each farm. Ewes were monitored by farmers from the time they were first placed in their lambing paddocks before lambing, up until lamb marking (the lambing period). The project required no change to normal practice. Veterinarians conducted postmortem (PM) examinations at three time points on each farm over the lambing period. A standard PM protocol was followed by all participating veterinarians.

resultsThe mean peri-parturient mortality over the lambing period was 2.5% in Year 1 and 2.0% in Year 2, with no significant difference between years. Factors that increased the risk of peri-parturient ewe mortality included ewe age (>5 years old) and litter size (triplet-bearing ewes). The most common causes of ewe death according to farmers was dystocia and unknown causes. The three most common diagnoses on veterinary PM examination were dystocia, septicaemia and trauma.

conclusionsThis study reveals the relative importance of each cause of ewe mortality over the peri-parturient period. Risk reduction could include identification and management of older ewes (aged above 5 years or older) and ewes carrying twins or triplets.

Indexed as

Sheep DiseasesAnimal HusbandryAnimalsAustraliaCause of DeathFemaleLitter SizePregnancyRisk FactorsSheepSouth Australiaewemortalitynon‐Merinoperi‐parturientsurvival

Identifiers

PMID39375187
PMCPMC11608937

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.