Table 5.
Description of variables related to feeding tested in the univariable analysis (Chi2-test)
| Variable | Categories | Total | Case flocks (n = 84) | Control flocks (n = 1414) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n | % | n | % | n | % | P-value | ||
| How often is concentrate offered?b | Twice daily | 896 | 60.5 | 51 | 58.0 | 849 | 60.6 | < 0.001 |
| Once daily | 314 | 21.2 | 16 | 18.5 | 299 | 21.3 | ||
| ≥ Thrice daily | 87 | 5.9 | 7 | 8.6 | 80 | 5.7 | ||
| Automat | 62 | 4.2 | 11 | 13.6 | 51 | 3.6 | ||
| Not giving concentrate | 123 | 8.3 | 2 | 1.2 | 122 | 8.7 | ||
| Ewes’ faecal consistency when lambing startsa | Firm pellets | 1234 | 84.4 | 57 | 71.3 | 1177 | 85.1 | 0.001 |
| Soft paste or diarrhoea | 229 | 15.7 | 23 | 28.8 | 206 | 14.9 | ||
| kg concentrate before lambinga | < 0.5 kg | 726 | 49.0 | 29 | 34.9 | 697 | 49.8 | 0.004 |
| 0.5–1 kg | 640 | 43.2 | 41 | 49.4 | 599 | 42.8 | ||
| > 1 kg | 116 | 7.8 | 13 | 15.7 | 103 | 7.4 | ||
| Type of foragea | Silage and hay | 326 | 21.8 | 9 | 10.7 | 317 | 22.5 | 0.008 |
| Hay | 211 | 14.1 | 8 | 9.5 | 203 | 14.4 | ||
| Silage | 958 | 64.1 | 67 | 79.8 | 891 | 63.2 | ||
| Kg concentrate after lambing | < 1 kg | 755 | 51.6 | 40 | 50.0 | 715 | 51.7 | 0.880 |
| 1–1.5 kg | 497 | 34.0 | 27 | 33.8 | 470 | 34.0 | ||
| > 1.5 kg | 210 | 14.4 | 13 | 16.3 | 197 | 14.3 | ||
aTested in multivariable model
bIntervening variable, not tested in the multivariable model