Behaviour and the Welfare of the Sheep

A systematic review of animal based indicators of sheep welfare on farm, at market and during transport, and qualitative appraisal of their validity and feasibility for use in UK abattoirs

“…Some novel welfare indicators are also necessary, assuming that measurement of historic fear and distress or historic ability to express normal behaviour could be measured. -Davies, 2008;Caroprese, 2009;Dwyer, 2009;Phythian, 2011;Stubsjoen, 2011;van Burgel, 2011;Phythian, 2012a Bouissou, 1995;Cockram , 2004;Greiveldinger, 2007;Nowak, 2008;Deiss, 2009;Gougoulis, 2010;Hemsworth, 2011;Human-animal relationship Alertness to approach in the field A Low Low Phythian , 2011 Avoidance distance test (ADT) A Low Low Napolitano, 2006;Waiblinger, 2006;Dwyer, 2008;Caroprese, 2009;Napolitano, 2011; Stubsjoen, 2011 Escape attempts A Low Low Bouissou, 1995;Cockram , 2004 Meat quality Meat colour P Medium High Dwyer, 2008;Liste, 2011;Napolitano, 2011;Teixeira, 2012 pH meat P Medium High Dwyer, 2004;Napolitano, 2006;Deiss, 2009;Liste, a Validity: High validity indicators were those validated in previous research, medium validity indicators were those without a reliable method of assessment and low validity indicators were those that have been suggested as indicators in scientific literature but without evidence that they actually assess welfare.…”

Destete artificial en ovinos: respuesta de estrés y bienestar animal. Revisión

“…El vínculo entre la oveja y el cordero se despliega inmediatamente del parto. El comportamiento maternal es inducido por los cambios endocrinos que ocurren en la oveja durante el periparto, principalmente la disminución de la concentración de progesterona (P4) y el aumento de las concentraciones de estrógenos y oxitocina (11,12) . En respuesta a esos cambios, y solo en este período, la oveja tiene una fuerte atracción hacia el líquido amniótico que recubre al cordero (13) .…”

“…The link between the ewe and the lamb is displayed immediately lambing. Maternal behavior is induced by endocrine changes that occur in ewes during the peripartum period, mainly the decrease in the progesterone (P4) concentration and the increase on estrogen and oxytocin concentrations (11,12) . In response to these changes, and only in this period, the ewe is strongly attracted to the amniotic fluid that surrounds the lamb (13) .…”

Clinical effects of isoflurane and sevoflurane in lambs

“…The ability to stand and suck after surgery is imperative for lambs and so a rapid and comfortable recovery is required. Depressed sucking activity may irretrievably break the ewe‐lamb bond, particularly in sheep breeds where good mothering is not a characteristic trait (Nowak et al. 2008).…”