Perinatal mortality in lambs in southern Brazil.

Hypothermia and dystocia were found to be the most common causes of perinatal mortality in 8 commercial wool flocks in one region of southern Brazil. It was established that low birth weight and poor maternal instinct in the ewes predisposed to losses due to hypothermia but that there appeared to be no association with adverse weather conditions. Other factors possibly predisposing to losses are discussed.