Embedded Files
Reproductive Behavior
Reproductive Behavior
• Homosexuality:
• Homosexuality:
◦ Regarded as a normal behavior in sheep.
◦ Regarded as a normal behavior in sheep.
◦ Occurs in up to 30% of all rams.
◦ Occurs in up to 30% of all rams.
◦ While incidence decreases in rams raised in heterosexual groups or those with ewe experience, the behavior still persists.
◦ While incidence decreases in rams raised in heterosexual groups or those with ewe experience, the behavior still persists.
Maternal and Lamb Interaction Issues
Maternal and Lamb Interaction Issues
• Lamb Stealing:
• Lamb Stealing:
◦ The Issue: Ewes may steal the lambs of others before their own parturition.
◦ The Issue: Ewes may steal the lambs of others before their own parturition.
◦ Consequence: The ewe often rejects her own lamb once it is finally born.
◦ Consequence: The ewe often rejects her own lamb once it is finally born.
◦ Prevention: Use of individual pens, partial barriers, or providing shelters for sequestration helps prevent theft.
◦ Prevention: Use of individual pens, partial barriers, or providing shelters for sequestration helps prevent theft.
• Lamb Recognition Factors:
• Lamb Recognition Factors:
◦ Recognition is primarily driven by the smell of the wool and the shape and color of the lamb’s head.
◦ Recognition is primarily driven by the smell of the wool and the shape and color of the lamb’s head.
◦ Alterations to the head (but not the tail) significantly increase the risk of rejection.
◦ Alterations to the head (but not the tail) significantly increase the risk of rejection.
• Lamb Rejection:
• Lamb Rejection:
◦ Causes: Social hierarchy, behavioral/physiologic issues, or environmental stress (e.g., rain) during delivery.
◦ Causes: Social hierarchy, behavioral/physiologic issues, or environmental stress (e.g., rain) during delivery.
◦ Management: Early intervention using a stanchion to confine the ewe with the lamb; tranquilization may be required in some cases.
◦ Management: Early intervention using a stanchion to confine the ewe with the lamb; tranquilization may be required in some cases.
• Cross-fostering:
• Cross-fostering:
◦ Used as a solution for abandoned, rejected, or orphaned lambs.
◦ Used as a solution for abandoned, rejected, or orphaned lambs.
◦ Techniques to "Fool" the Ewe:
◦ Techniques to "Fool" the Ewe:
▪ Physiological: Cervical stimulation using balloons to trigger oxytocin release and maternal behavior.
▪ Physiological: Cervical stimulation using balloons to trigger oxytocin release and maternal behavior.
▪ Olfactory (Scent): Covering the foster lamb with a T-shirt worn by the ewe’s own lamb or using the skin of the ewe’s dead lamb.
▪ Olfactory (Scent): Covering the foster lamb with a T-shirt worn by the ewe’s own lamb or using the skin of the ewe’s dead lamb.
Stereotypic Behaviors
Stereotypic Behaviors
• Definition: Repetitive behaviors often linked to environment or stress.
• Definition: Repetitive behaviors often linked to environment or stress.
• Common Forms in Sheep:
• Common Forms in Sheep:
◦ Wool-sucking.
◦ Wool-sucking.
◦ Intersucking (sucking on other sheep).
◦ Intersucking (sucking on other sheep).
◦ Self-sucking: Specifically involving the tails or the udder.
◦ Self-sucking: Specifically involving the tails or the udder.
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