Influence of dag score and breech wrinkle score on the time taken to crutch unmulesed Merino sheep

摘要

This study used 393 ewe and 377 wether unmulesed Merino sheep to investigate the relationship between breech wrinkle score, dag score and the time required to crutch Merino sheep. Dag score and breech wrinkle score both significantly affected the time taken to crutch individual sheep (P < 0.001 for both). The mean crutching time of the ewe mob was significantly greater than that of the wether mob (P < 0.001), with factors other than breech wrinkle score and dag score accounting for approximately half of this difference. The potential of anthelmintic treatments to reduce overall dag formation was also highlighted.