The influence of man's assistance at parturition on the neonatal behaviour of Altamurana breed-population lambs

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• 作者：Cagnetta ; P. ; Vonghia ; G. ; Melodia ; L.
• 刊名：Applied Animal Behaviour Science
• 出版年：1995
• 出版时间：September, 1995
• 年：1995
• 卷：44
• 期：2-4
• 页码：259
• 全文大小：65.3 K

文摘

Long labour in sheep is a sign of ‘difficulty’ at delivery and considerably influences neonatal mortality. We described the difference in behavioural traits and performances between natural birth lambs and assisted ones in the first stage of life. The trial was carried out on 31 primiparous Altamurana breed-population ewes and their respective single birth lambs. Assistance was provided systematically when labour was longer than 1 h. Behaviour was recorded by direct observations and by video-recorders. The mean (± SE) weight at birth (4488 ± 127.23 g vs. 3923 ± 130.55 g; P < 0.01) of the lambs and the pregnancy length (149.3 ± 0.33 days vs. 148.3 ± 0.34 days; P < 0.05) were significantly greater in assisted deliveries than in natural ones. For all behavioural parameters investigated, the differences, though not statistically significant, appeared frequently evident as for first standing (20.1 ± 3.44 min vs. 14.4 ± 3.44 min) and first suckling (39.2 ± 3.76 min vs. 31.1 ± 3.17 min) of ‘assisted birth’ male lambs as to ‘natural birth’ female lambs. Assisted male lambs obtained a higher average increase 10 days after birth than female lambs born naturally (2324.0 ± 199.65 g vs. 1616.1 ± 199.65 g; P < 0.05). Liveweight (6540.7 ± 182.22 g vs. 5606.6 ± 187.13 g; P < 0.01) and daily average milk intake (1083.7 ± 36.19 g vs. 954.9 ± 37.17 g; P < 0.05) at day 10 were significantly higher in assisted birth lambs. Assistance at parturition in primiparous ewes aids normal neonatal behaviour and allows lambs to express their own potential.