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Mortality Transmitters – New Instrument for Animal Loss Research on Norwegian Ranges

Dødelighetssendere - nytt verktøy for tapsunder-søkelser på norske utmarksbeiter

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica volume 32, pages 415–424 (1991)Cite this article

Abstract

In 1988, 315 lambs from 4 sheep (Ovis aries) herds comprised of 1003 animals were marked with silent mortality transmitters in Gammeldalen in Hedmark County, southern Norway. The aim was to identify causes of death and the so-called “hidden loss” of lambs on summer range. A total of 22 animals, 19 lambs and 3 ewes were found dead. Of these, 18 lambs were marked with radio transmitters. A total of 10 animals died of disease (45.5 %) and 12 were killed by predators (54.5 %). Of the 18 radio-located lambs, 6 died of disease (33.3 %) and 12 due to predators (66.7 %). Various common lamb diseases were diagnosed, e.g. lung, thoracic and intestinal infections. Eleven lambs were killed by lynx (Lynx lynx), a 12th was found chased to exhaustion, presumably by a predator. Use of mortality transmitters is concluded to be useful in investigating sheep losses on Norwegian ranges.

Sammendrag

I 1988 ble 315 lam fra 4 besetninger av sau (Ovis aries) på til sammen 1003 dyr merket med “tause dødelighetssendere” i Tynset, Hedmark fylke, Norge. Målsettingen var å belyse dødsårsaker og kartlegge “mørketap” av lam på utmarksbeiter. I alt 22 dyr, 19 lam og 3 søyer ble funnet dode. Av disse var 18 radiomerket. Dødsårsak ble fastslått i hvert tilfelle. Totalt dode 10 dyr av sykdom (45.5 %), 12 ble drept av rovdyr (54.5 %). Av de 18 radiomerkede lam døde 6 av sykdom (33.3 %) og 12 ble drept av rovdyr (66.7 %). Fiere vanlige lammesykdommer ble påvist (f. eks lunge-, brysthinne- og tarm-infeksjoner). Elleve lam ble drept av gaupe (Lynx lynx), et tolvte ble funnet sprengt. Bruk av “taus dødelighetssender” er en velegnet teknikk for tapsundersøkelser av sau på utmarksbeiter.

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  1. Department of Biology, University of Oslo, P. O. Box 1050, N-0316, Oslo 3, Norway

    Ivar Mysterud & Jerry T. Warren

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  1. Ivar Mysterud
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  2. Jerry T. Warren
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Mysterud, I., Warren, J.T. Mortality Transmitters – New Instrument for Animal Loss Research on Norwegian Ranges. Acta Vet Scand 32, 415–424 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03546942

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Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

ISSN: 1751-0147