Abstract

Triplet-born lambs have been shown to have lighter birth weights (Morris & Kenyon, 2004; Kerslake et al., 2005; Everett-Hincks & Dodds, 2008), lower rectal temperatures (Dwyer & Morgan, 2006; Stafford et al., 2007), lower plasma fructose (Stafford et al., 2007) and greater plasma lactate concentrations within five minutes of birth (Stafford et al., 2007; J.I. Kerslake, Unpublished data) than twin-born lambs. In addition to this, within a tripletborn litter, the lightest lambs have been shown to have lower rectal temperatures and greater plasma lactate concentrations within five minutes of birth (Stafford et al., 2007; J.I. Kerslake, Unpublished data) than the heaviest lambs. Light birth weights, low rectal temperatures and greater plasma lactate concentrations within five minutes of birth have been used as indices for placental insufficiency, acute intra-partum hypoxemia and inadequate thermogenesis after birth (Barlow et al., 1987; Mellor, 1988).

JL, Kerslake, PR Kenyon, KJ Stafford, ST Morris, and PCH Morel

Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production, Volume 70, Palmerston North, 171-174, 2010