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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 50(6)

Influence of dag score and breech wrinkle score on the time taken to crutch unmulesed Merino sheep

J. E. Smith A B , R. G. Woodgate A , C. A. Curnow A and D. L. Michael A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia, 444 Albany Highway, Albany, WA 6330, Australia.

B Corresponding author. Email: julia.smith@agric.wa.gov.au

Animal Production Science 50(6) 608-610 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN09190
Submitted: 8 December 2009  Accepted: 18 March 2010   Published: 11 June 2010

Abstract

This study used 393 ewe and 377 wether unmulesed Merino sheep to investigate the relationship between breech wrinkle score, dag score and the time required to crutch Merino sheep. Dag score and breech wrinkle score both significantly affected the time taken to crutch individual sheep (P < 0.001 for both). The mean crutching time of the ewe mob was significantly greater than that of the wether mob (P < 0.001), with factors other than breech wrinkle score and dag score accounting for approximately half of this difference. The potential of anthelmintic treatments to reduce overall dag formation was also highlighted.

Additional keywords: crutching, dags, hand piece, internal parasites, unmulesed.


Acknowledgements

The authors wish to acknowledge the support from project staff, managers and staff on Mount Barker DAFWA Research Station.


References


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