Study on mortality of Mecheri sheep under dry land farming conditions

Study on mortality of Mecheri sheep was carried by analysing data of Mecheri Sheep Research Station, Pottaneri, Tamil Nadu covering a period of 23 years. The overall mortality rate in Mecheri sheep ranged between 3.03 and 19.95% with the mean value of 9.81% over the years. The death rate was highest in 0–3 months, 3–6 months and above six years age group and they were considered as the most critical periods with respect to mortality. The mortality rate in summer, southwest monsoon, northeast monsoon and winter were 24.20, 29.61, 18.34 and 27.85%, respectively. The death of the animal due to respiratory and gastro-intestinal tract causes was maximum accounting for 33.48 and 33.03% mortality in different age group. Improving lamb management and proper care of pregnant and lactating ewes could minimize the mortality rate in young animals and a sound culling policy for adult ewes aged more than the six years would be of help in reducing the mortality in the adult animals.