@conference {3678,
	title = {BRIEF COMMUNICATION: An evaluation of the sensory traits of venison},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {74},
	year = {2014},
	month = {06/2014},
	pages = {226-228},
	address = {Napier},
	abstract = {New Zealand venison is a well-regarded export product in Europe and quality is a key philosophy of the deer industry. As production targets increase understanding consumer preferences is important to ensure the eating quality of venison is maintained alongside these goals. Using data available from the Deer Progeny Test (Ward et al. 2014) this study aims to assess the quality of data from a sensory evaluation and investigate relationships between sensory traits and the overall acceptability of venison...},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Mathias-Davis HC and Ward JF and Dodds KG and Everett-Hincks JM and Maclennan G}
}
@conference {3678,
	title = {Design and implementation of the Deer Progeny Test (DPT)},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {74},
	year = {2014},
	month = {06/2014},
	pages = {220-225},
	address = {Napier},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Ward JF and Archer JA and Asher GW and Everett-Hincks JM and Mathias-Davis HC}
}
@conference {89237,
	title = {The effect of ewe prelamb body condition on triplet lamb performance in a commercial flock},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {73},
	year = {2013},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {126-130},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	address = {Hamilton},
	abstract = {<p>Triplet-bearing ewes (n = 999) were identified at pregnancy scanning (PS) and randomly assigned to two pasture feeding treatments through to lamb weaning, FeedPlus (FP) and Control (C). FeedPlus ewes were fed according to theoretical requirements based on live weight and a fetal number of three while C ewes were fed as for twinning ewes. Ewe body condition score (BCS) was similar for FP and C ewes at PS (BCS 3). FP ewes had higher BCS than C ewes at set-stocking one month before the mean lambing date (PL, BCS 2.9 {\textpm} 0.1 versus 2.6 {\textpm} 0.1, P \&lt;0.001). Every unit increase in BCS at PS improved litter survival to weaning by 0.33 {\textpm} 0.17 of a lamb. An increase of BCS at set-stocking improved litter survival to weaning by 0.45 {\textpm} 0.18 of a lamb (P \&lt;0.05). Litter weight increased with increasing BCS PL (β= 1.2 {\textpm} 0.5 kg/unit BCS, P \&lt;0.05). Low BCS ewes (BCS <=2.5) at PS weaned 3.5 kg less lamb than medium BCS ewes at PS (BCS >=3) (82.4 {\textpm} 1.1 kg versus 85.9 {\textpm} 1.4 kg, P \&lt;0.05) when rearing triplets. Pre-lamb BCS had a positive effect on lamb weaning weight (β= 1.3 {\textpm} 0.6 kg/unit BCS, P \&lt;0.05) and on lamb growth rates from birth to weaning (β= 13.5 {\textpm} 6.0 g/day per unit increase in PL BCS, P \&lt;0.05). The study highlighted the importance of ewe body condition score at PS and PL on triplet ewe performance.</p>
},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Everett-Hincks JM and Stevens DR and Rendel JM and Smith TR and Smith PJ}
}
@conference {89238,
	title = {Ewe body condition score and the effect on lamb growth rate},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {73},
	year = {2013},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {131-135},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	address = {Hamilton},
	abstract = {<p>Data were analysed to investigate the association between ewe body condition score (BCS) and lamb growth rate (LGR). Ewe BCS was assessed on a scale of 1 to 5 pre-lambing (BCSL) and at weaning (BCSW). Change in BCS throughout lamb rearing (BCSChange) was calculated as the difference between BCS at weaning and pre-lamb. The three way interaction between birth rank, BCSL and BCSChange was significant (P \&lt;0.05). When the interaction was examined for birth rank, it was significant between BCSL and BCSChange in singles (P \&lt;0.05) and twins (P \&lt;0.01), but not in triplets. In singles and twins, lambs with the highest LGR were from dams that had high BSCL and negative BCSChange or those with low BCSL and positive BCSChange. Triplets had a similar trend whereby lambs with the highest LGR were from dams with a high BCSL and a negative BCSChange. This study suggests that if farmers manage their ewes to achieve a high BCS at lambing time this is likely to improve lamb growth to weaning. In addition, identifying ewes with a low BCS at lambing and preferentially feeding them to increase BCS during rearing may increase single and twinlamb growth rates.</p>
},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Mathias-Davis HC and Shackell GH and Greer GJ and Bryant AL and Everett-Hincks JM}
}
@conference {75875,
	title = {The association of ewe body condition score with weight of lamb weaned},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {71},
	year = {2011},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {62-65},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	address = {Invercargill},
	abstract = {Data from 1,301 ewes lambing in 2009 were analysed to investigate the association of body condition score (BCS) with total lamb weaned (TLW). BCS was assessed on a scale of 0-5 at mating (BCSM), scanning (BCSS), pre-lambing (BCSL) and weaning (BCSW) and categorized as <3, 3-3.5 and >3.5. Ewe age, flock, live weight at mating (LWM) and date of lambing (DOB) had significant effects on TLW (P <0.05). Ewes having triplets at birth with >3.5 and 3-3.5 BCSM had a higher TLW (63.2, 63.0 kg respectively; P<0.05) than ewes with triplets at birth and <3 BCSM (56.1 kg). Ewes with 3-3.5 BCSS had higher TLW than ewes with >3.5 BCSS for all birth ranks (49.8 kg, 47.2 kg respectively, P <0.05). There was no association between BCSL and TLW. Ewes with <3 or 3-3.5 BCSW had a significantly higher TLW than ewes with >3.5 BCSW (>3.5 = 43.8 kg, 3-3.5 = 48.9 kg, <3 = 50.9 kg; P <0.001). This study indicates ewes with 3-3.5 BCSS or <3 or 3-3.5 BCSW outperform ewes with >3.5 BCSS or >3.5 BCSW.},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Mathias-Davis HC and Shackell GH and Greer GJ and Everett-Hincks JM}
}
@conference {69499,
	title = {Effect of litter weight variation on cause of death and survival in triplet lambs},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {70},
	year = {2010},
	month = {Jun},
	pages = {175-179},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	address = {Palmerston North},
	abstract = {Triplet litter weight variation and association with lamb death and ewe age was investigated. Litter weight percentage for each lamb was calculated (PLWT). The mean and standard deviation of PLWT were used to rank lambs as Light (<Mean - 1 standard deviation unit (SD)), Medium (Mean +/- 1 SD) or Heavy (>Mean + 1 SD). Average probability of viability at birth and death by dystocia or starvation exposure changed with weight rank. Viability at birth was Light 89.3\%, Confidence interval (CI) 87.5\% - 90.8\%; Medium 95.6\%, CI 95.1\% - 96.1\%; Heavy 98.0\%, CI 97.4\% - 98.5\%, (P <0.001). Death due to dystocia was Light 8.9\%, CI 7.2\% - 10.8\%; Medium 3.4\%, CI 2.9\% - 4.0\%; Heavy 2.1\%, CI 1.6\% - 2.8\%, (P <0.001). Death from starvation exposure was Light 5.9\%, CI 4.8\% - 7.4\%; Medium 3.7\%, CI 3.0\% - 4.5\%; Heavy 1.3\%, CI 0.8\% - 2.1\%, (P <0.01). Ewe litter weight variation (EwePLVar) was calculated as weight range divided by total litter weight. Older ewes had less EwePLVar than two-year-old ewes (P <0.01). EwePLVar and average litter weight (AveLWT) affected litter survival (EwePLVar at birth, (P <0.001), birth to Day 3 (P <0.01). Average litter weight at birth (P <0.05), birth to Day 3 (P <0.01) and Day 3 to weaning (P <0.001)).},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Mathias-Davis HC and Yuan JV and Everett-Hincks JM}
}
@conference {69480,
	title = {Yearling lambing performance and primary cause of lamb death},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {70},
	year = {2010},
	month = {Jun},
	pages = {96-100},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	address = {Palmerston North},
	abstract = {As a result of increasing on-farm costs, farmers are aiming to increase the number of saleable lambs by lambing yearling ewes. This study investigated lamb survival rates in lambs born to yearlings from birth to three days of age. Data were collected from six recorded flocks in 2007 and 2008, involving 880 yearling ewes giving birth to 557 single and 756 twin lambs. All lambs were weighed at birth and at weaning. Lambs that died within the first three days of life were subject to post-mortem to determine the primary cause of death. Mean lamb survival to three days of age was 80\% and survival to weaning was 72\%. There were significantly less twin lambs born alive, than single lambs (90\%, CI 88\% - 92\%, cf. 95\%, CI 93\% - 96\%, P <0.05). Twin lambs had a higher death rate due to starvation/exposure, (6.3\%, CI 5.3\% - 7.4\% cf. 2.8\%, CI 2\% - 3.8\%, P <0.05) than single lambs. Dystocia did not differ significantly between single and twin lambs (6\% cf. 10\% respectively; P >0.05). Mortality in the first few days after birth is higher in yearlings than in flock ewes and  higher in twins than singles.},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Young EA and Yuan JV and Everett-Hincks JM}
}
@conference {41719,
	title = {Current status of QTL and association studies in New Zealand cattle , sheep and deer},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {67},
	year = {2007},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {153-159},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	address = {Wanaka},
	abstract = {In the last 15 years, a series of experiments has beencarried out to search for quantitative trait loci (QTL) in New Zealand cattle, sheepand deer. A QTL represents the position on a chromosome where there is a statistically significant genetic effecton a measured trait. This paper reviews data published so far from these QTL trials and from various association studies. Although the measurement of traits (or {\textquoteleft}phenotypes{\textquoteright}) and the sampling of tissue or fluid for DNA may be complete, the genotyping of DNA isstill incomplete in most studies; further work may be expected as new DNA genotyping techniques and new genomic data become available, and as funds allow. In cattle, we describe the current status of research for carcass composition, meat quality, pubertal traits, milk yield and milk composition traits, and resistance to facial eczema and bloat. In sheep, we include QTL searches for disease traits (resistance to nematode parasites, facial eczema, ryegrass staggers, and footrot), muscling and carcass composition, reproductive traits, wool traits, and lamb survival. In deer, QTL searches have been carried out for live weights, seasonality and pubertal traits, using measurements from an interspecific hybrid. Generally, significant results have been followed further by finemapping and independent validation, before release to industry. Some of the mapping techniques will be described, with examples. So far, QTLs under study in New Zealand have led to the identification and use of gene-tests or marker-tests for meat tenderness and carcass composition in beef cattle, milk yield and composition traits in dairy cattle, and meat yield \%, muscling and litter size genes in sheep.},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Morris CA and Campbell AW and Cullen NG and Davis GH and Everett-Hincks JM and Hall RJ and Henry HM and PL Johnson and McEwan JC and Phua SH and Wilson T}
}
@conference {41700,
	title = {The effect of Finnish Landrace and Texel ewe and lamb behaviour after tagging on lamb survival to weaning},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {67},
	year = {2007},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {48-54},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	address = {Wanaka},
	abstract = {The study was carried out on a commercial New Zealand sheep farm with performance recorded 
straightbred Finnish Landrace and Texel primiparous ewes. The objective of the study was to determine the 
strength of ewe-lamb attachment at tagging by investigating the behaviour of Finn and Texel ewes and their 
lambs and relate those behaviours to survival to weaning. Lamb and ewe behaviour was observed for ten 
minutes after the lambs were ear tagged. Finn ewes took at least twice as long to contact their lambs than 
Texel ewes (P<0.01). There were no breed differences for time of lamb to stand and suck after tagging. Finn 
twin lambs took longer to follow their dam than Texel twin lambs (P<0.01). Ewes with higher Maternal 
Behaviour Score (high MBS favourable) contact their lambs quicker and the lamb stood, sucked and 
followed its moving dam more quickly than lambs of ewes with low MBS (P<0.05). Texel ewes with twins 
had higher low-pitch bleating frequencies than Texel ewes with a single lamb (P<0.01). MBS had a 
significant and positive effect on low-pitch bleating frequency (β=19.3 {\textpm} 3.51 bleats/MBS, P<0.0001). Ewes 
with lower MBS at tagging high-pitch bleated significantly more if their lamb took longer to stand (β=5.25 {\textpm} 
0.65 bleats/minute, P<0.0001). Lamb survival improved3-fold for lambs that sucked their dam (P<0.01) and 
improved nearly 5-fold for lambs that stand, within ten minutes after tagging (P<0.05). Lamb behaviour at 
tagging better explained the variation in lamb survival than the ewe behaviours analysed. },
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Everett-Hincks JM and Blair HT and Stafford KJ and Lopez-Villalobos N}
}
@conference {41701,
	title = {Parturition duration and birthing difficulty in twin and triplet lambs},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {67},
	year = {2007},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {55-60},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	address = {Wanaka},
	abstract = {The primary objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between parturition duration, localised oedema in lambs (as determined by post mortem findings) and lamb survival. Parturition behaviour was recorded for 131 mixed age Coopworth ewes and their 303 lambs (twins n=180; triplets n=123). Twin lambs and first born triplet lambs that did not survive tothree weeks of age took at least twice as long to be born than lambs that survived (P<0.05). The duration of parturition for lambs that died and had moderate to severe subcutaneous oedema was more than three times longer than for those that had none and minor localised subcutaneous oedema at post mortem examination (P<0.05). Further research is required to understand the factors contributing to prolonged parturition for twins and triplets. This information is needed so that appropriate management techniques and animal breeding programmes can be developed to reduce birthing difficulties (dystocia) and lamb mortality rates.},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Everett-Hincks JM and Dodds KG and Kerslake JI}
}
@conference {41529,
	title = {Lamb survival: a new examination of an old problem},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {65},
	year = {2005},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {13-18},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	address = {Christchurch},
	abstract = {The overall aim of this project is to identify genetic markers for lamb survival. This paper reports the results from the first stage of the investigation aimed to identify the primary causes of lamb death from parturition to three days of age for highly fecund flocks. Flocks in the study consisted of 9 breeds and 12,000 breeding ewes and were located in New Zealand regions; Southland, Otago and Manawatu. All lambs were tagged and identified to their dam and sire. Lambs dead at birth and up to three days of age were collected (n = 1529), weighed, measured and examined by post mortem to determine cause and time of death. Primary causes of lamb death included: dystocia, starvation/exposure, amnion over nose, organ rupture, disease, and unknown.
 The mean mortality rate from birth to weaning for the 20 flocks studied was 14 {\textpm} 0.6\% (SEM) in singles, 16 {\textpm} 0.3\% in twins and 29 {\textpm} 0.6\% in triplets. The study showed that the predominant primary cause of lamb deaths from parturition to three days of age was dystocia (difficult births). The dystocia rate was highest for dead single lambs (57 {\textpm} 4.2\% SEM) (P < 0.05), where there was an unexpectedly high incidence for dystocia for dead twin (46 {\textpm} 1.7\% SEM) and triplet lambs (48 {\textpm} 2.3\% SEM). This suggests that dystocia as a primary cause of lamb death may be underestimated within highly fecund sheep flocks. The high death rate from dystocia in twin and triplet lambs has not been previously reported and is currently under further investigation.
KEYWORDS: lamb survival; dystocia; post-mortem; cause of death; mortality; genetic; phenotypic. },
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Kerslake JI and Everett-Hincks JM and Campbell AW}
}
@conference {41509,
	title = {The effect of ewe and lamb post-parturient behaviour on lamb survival to weaning: A comparative study of Finns and Texels},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {64},
	year = {2004},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {223-226},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	address = {Hamilton},
	abstract = {Post parturient behaviours of twinning Finn and Texel ewes and their lambs were monitored under commercial conditions and a relationship sought between this and lamb survival to weaning. Texel lamb survival to weaning was greatest when Texel ewes quickly made contact with their lamb following birth (within 2 minutes) and for lambs that located their dam{\textquoteright}s udder within 30 minutes from birth. Finn lamb survival to weaning was improved when Finn lambs were more vocal after birth, when Finn ewes had higher MBS and when Finn ewes spent a greater proportion of time grooming their lambs. Variation in perinatal behaviour within and across breeds was large and therefore potential exists for improving the ability of the ewe and lamb to bond successfully at parturition by selecting for some of the behaviours identified in this study that encourage lamb survival to weaning. },
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Everett-Hincks JM and Stafford KJ and Blair HT and Lopez-Villalobos N}
}
@conference {41502,
	title = {The effect of ewe nutrition on maternal behaviour score and litter survival},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {64},
	year = {2004},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {188-191},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	address = {Hamilton},
	abstract = {Mothering ability was investigated in two breeds of sheep with twin and triplet litters in 2000. The study was carried out on a commercial sheep farm with high reproductive rates gained through intensive selection in its Coopworth flock and the introduction of East Friesian genes by crossbreeding.
East Friesian Coopworth (EFCoop) ewes maintained body condition between pregnancy scanning and lambing whereas Coopworth ewes lost body condition (-0.35 CS). Plasma β-hydroxybutyrate (β -OHB) was significantly higher in Coopworth ewes prior to lambing. Coopworth and EFCoop ewes with triplet litters had elevated levels of plasma {\^a}- hydroxybutyrate concentration compared to ewes with twins (0.70 {\textpm} 0.03 vs 0.49 {\textpm} 002, P<0.0001).
Coopworth ewes had higher triplet litter survival rates to tagging (0.86 {\textpm} 0.03) compared with EFCoop ewes (0.68 {\textpm} 0.05) (P<0.001). The maternal behaviour score (MBS) of ewes was determined within 24 hours of birth on the basis of their response to the shepherd tagging their lambs on a 5-point scale from 1 (ewe leaves litter and does not return) to 5 (ewe remains within 1m of her litter). The maternal behaviour score (MBS) was higher in Coopworth ewes (3.6 {\textpm} 0.04) than the EFCoop ewes (3.4 {\textpm} 0.07) and increased with litter size but remained constant for EFCoop ewes regardless of litter size.
The results of this study suggest that ewes that maintain condition in late pregnancy provide a more suitable maternal environment to support their litters. This is increasingly important for triplet litters. This study shows that a ewe that has slightly higher plasma β-hydroxybutyrate levels, is not as receptive to the demands of her litter and is sensitive to human interference as indicated by lower MBS. },
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Everett-Hincks JM and Blair HT and Stafford KJ and Lopez-Villalobos N}
}
@conference {41427,
	title = {The effect of sward height on twin and triplet lamb birth weights and survival rates to weaning},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {63},
	year = {2003},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {152-154},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	address = {Queenstown},
	abstract = {The differential allocation of pasture between ewes of different bearing/rearing ranks requires a knowledge of the relationship between herbage allowance, intake and production. Few experiments have been conducted in which responses to different pasture allowances have been examined for triplet-bearing/rearing ewes, particularly under continuous stocking management. Published feed requirements for ewes rearing triplets have often been extrapolated from those defined for twin-rearing ewes (Geenty \& Rattray 1987). The sward surface guidelines for feeding single- and twin-bearing ewes have been published and researched under New Zealand conditions (Parker \& McCutcheon 1992; Morris et al., 1993a, 1993b; Morris et al., 1994).
There is anecdotal evidence for varying lambing performance and lamb growth rates for triplet-bearing/rearing ewes under pastoral grazing conditions. The national average lambing percentage is increasing to beyond 120\% (MWIES 2002). The proportion of triplets in flocks lambing above 150\% increases at the expense of single-born lambs (Amer et al., 1999).
The aim of the research communicated in this paper was to compare ewe and lamb performance in twin- and triplet-bearing/rearing ewes offered various sward height allowances. },
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Morris ST and Kenyon PR and Burnham DL and Everett-Hincks JM}
}
@conference {41047,
	title = {Performance of Romney and One-Quarter Merino x Three-Quarters Romney sheep on Wanganui hill country},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {58},
	year = {1998},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {266-269},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	abstract = {The performance of hoggets of part-superfine-Merino ancestry born in 1994 and 1995 were compared with straightbred Romneys (R) in a highly selected nucleus flock on a hill country property, near Wanganui. All animals were born to R ewes. In addition to R, {\textonehalf} Merinos ({\textonehalf} M) were born in 1993 and {\textonequarter} Merino ({\textonequarter}M) in 1994 and 1995. The {\textonequarter}M and R sheep born in 1994 did not differ significantly in hogget greasy fleece weight, live weights, growth rates, or faecal egg and nematode counts. Midside fleece samples collected at two-tooth ewe shearing in late February 1996 showed that the {\textonequarter}M sheep were finer, more yellow, more-bulky and had shorter wool than the R sheep. For {\textonequarter}M and R sheep born in 1995, the {\textonequarter}M genotype had a lower hogget greasy fleece weight, weaning weight and 12 month live weight. The {\textonequarter}M hogget wool was finer, brighter, less yellow, bulkier and shorter than the R midside wool. Clean scoured yield was not significantly different. },
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Everett-Hincks JM and Wickham GA and Blair HT}
}
