| Titles |
|
English :
|
The impact of lambing stress on post-parturient behaviour of sheep with consequences on neonatal homeothermy and survival
|
|
| Abstract |
During lambing the expression of an appropriate behavioural response from both the ewe and the lamb are extremely important to lamb survival. The aim of this study was to show the effect of length and difficulty of the birth process on the expression of maternal and neonatal behaviour with consequences on homeothermy and survival of the neonate lamb. Data were collected from 61 Finnish Landrace X Rahmani crossbred (second generation) primiparous ewes and their single born lambs. Based on the average length of parturition, the ewes were grouped into shOt1 birth (less than 32.5 min) and long birth (equal to or higher them 32.5 min) classes. The data recorded include maternal and neonatal behaviour, lamb body temperature over the first 3 days of life, and survival rate of the neonate lamb during the first week after birth. Blood samples were also collected from the lamb, pre-suckling and at 24 and 72 h after birth. The obtained sera were assayed for thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) that are associated with heat production. Ewes that had prolonged and difficult births did not show competent maternal behaviour compared to mothers with short and un-complicated deliveries, as they were slower to begin grooming their lambs after birth, spent less time licking their lambs, made less low-pitched vocalizations and nosing, were more likely to show rejection behaviour (10.34 % vs 5.4 %, P < 0.05), and were more likely to move away when the lamb sought the udder in an attempt to suck (acceptance rate, 55.5 % vs 64.79 %, P < 0.05)). Similarly, lambs from a prolonged and difficult bum were significantly less vigorous after birth, as they had taken more time to stand, reach the udder and to suck successfully. These lambs had lower serum concentrations of T3 and T4, and they also had a reduced ability to maintain body temperature after birth. This effect persisted over the first 3 days of life and was associated with higher neonatal mortality in the first week after birth (11.54 %), compared to lambs from short and non-stressful birth processes (2.86 %, P < 0.01). From the present study, it can be concluded that, prolonged deliveries with birthing difficulty were one of the main causes of death of large, single-born lan1bs, as these complications cause the expression of inappropriate behavioural responses from both the ewe and neonatal lamb. Thus, interventions designed to reduce the incidence of prolonged parturitions are likely to be associated with better welfare for the ewe and the lamb and consequently improved lamb homeothemy and survival.
Keywords: Ewe; Lamb; Behaviour; Thyroid hormones; Homeothermy; Survival
|
| Publication year |
2011
|
| Pages |
999-1005
|
| Availability location |
معهد بحوث الانتاج الحيوانى- شارع نادى الصيد- الدقى- الجيزة
|
| Availability number |
|
| Organization Name |
Animal Production Research Institute (APRI)
|
| serial title |
Science Direct Theriogenology
|
| Web Page |
|
| Author(s) from ARC |
|
| External authors (outside ARC) |
رجب احمد درويش
طب بيطرى- جامعة المنصورة
|
| Agris Categories |
Animal physiology - Nutrition
|
AGROVOC
TERMS |
Behaviour.
Ewes.
Lambs.
Survival.
Thermoregulation.
Thyroid hormones.
|
| Publication Type |
Journal
|