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Abstract:
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Inanition and salmonellosis were the major causes of death aboard ship, accounting for 50% and 25% of sheep deaths respectively. Failure to eat pelleted feed during lot-feeding predisposed to both conditions. Factors that predispose to mortality include season, age and fatness. Sheep with the highest risk of death are adult wethers in fat condition and exported in the second half of the year. A cocktail of 5 substances reduced feedlot non-feeders by 21% and shipboard deaths by 43% on a voyage. Wethers re ired 35% to 85% more feed than published estimates to maintain liveweight during shipping.
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