HABRI Central

This work investigated the differences in the reactivity of Sarda (primiparous n=18, multiparous n=17) and Dorset (multiparous n=8) breeds of sheep and their singleton lambs to two challenging test situations involving a mother-lamb partial separation test and an isolation test. Non-parametric analysis used single behavioural variables and fear scores to evaluate the effect of parity, sex of lambs, and the association between mother-lamb behaviour. Amongst ewes, Dorset were characterised by a more calm temperament while Sarda (especially primiparous ewes) were more active in their response to challenge (i.e. more attempts to escape). As with their dams, lambs reflected to a certain extent this divergence and overall during isolation lamb fear score was on average significantly higher than dams. Correlations between measures of behavioural reactivity across tests were carried out to search for predictive measures of fear. A very strong correlation emerged linking vocalisation to locomotor activity. Vocalisation could be a good candidate as predictor factor of an active reaction of sheep to a fearful situation.

Researchers should cite this work as follows:

1. Animal behavior
2. Animal genetics
3. Animals
4. Animal science
5. Bovidae
6. Breeding
7. Dog Breeds
8. Effect
9. Lambs
10. Mammals
11. peer-reviewed
12. predictions
13. Ruminants
14. Sheep
15. temperament
16. ungulates
17. vertebrates
18. Wool producing animals