Fox predation as a cause of lamb mortality.

Abstract

Neo-natal lamb mortality was investigated in a flock of 545 Merino ewes under two management systems during lambing at Minnipa, South Australia. Lamb mor-talities of 21 and 27 % in the drifted and set stocked groups respectively were not significantly different. Both primary predation (P < 0.05) and mutilation of lamb carcases (P < 0.001) were higher in the set stocked group. The fox was responsible for most deaths due to primary predation; of four foxes killed, the stomachs of three con-tained fresh lamb carcase. Proximity to native scrub and the system of management are suggested as contributing factors to the higher predation-mutilation pattern in the set stocked group. I.