Lamb mortality in Meknes province (Morocco)

Abstract

Two studies were carried out: a preliminary study based upon 220 flocks visited twice to collect data on sheep-flock management and losses, and a second intensive 2 year (1984–1986) study carried out on 16 of the 220 flocks in one country. Mean annual lamb mortalities were 17.6% (1984–1985) and 31.3% (1985–1986), and varied significantly according to nutrition. Pre-parturient deaths represented 27.3% (1984–1985) and 18.9% (1985–1986) of total deaths. The percentage of parturient deaths was very low (0.4%) for both years. Of the lambs necropsied, starvation/exposure complex contributed most to lamb mortality. Enteritis and septicemia represented the second most important cause. Of the enteritis cases, 18.5–63.2% of the samples analyzed were positive for Escherichia coli: 38.5% of the septicemia cases were positive for E. coli in 1985–1986 but none were positive in 1984–1985. E. coli K99 isolates were rare. Only one Salmonella isolate was made in 1985–1986. There were 16 cases (12.2%) of pneumonia in 1984–1985 and two cases only (1.5%) in 1985–1986. Of the cases examined, 18.8% were positive for Pasturella hemolytica and 25% were positive for Pasturella multocida in 1984–1985. Its appears that lamb mortality can be reduced by improvement of nutrition and health care in many of these flocks. Further work should be done to provide information on the causes of lamb pneumonia as well as the potential for vaccination against lamb diarrhea (i.e. E. coli in these flocks.