Effect of Using Two Music Types on Non-Pregnant Non-Lactating Arabi Ewes Behaviour As a Tool for Welfare Improvement

Abstract

ABSTRACT:The present study was designed to determine whether playing two music types will improve behaviour of non-pregnant, nonlactating Arabi sheep. Thirty Arabi ewes, aged 2 -3 years, were included in the study. Ewes were divided into three groups, 10 ewes each. The groups were: Control (with no music exposure); Classic music exposure and Fast music exposure. The sound level for classic and fast music groups was 80 dB with the frequency of 1 KHz. The behavioural data were collected using direct observations for six respective days. Results revealed that using music, both classic and fast, significantly decreased the frequency of aggressive behaviours (P < 0.001), vocalization (P < 0.01), defecation (P < 0.05) and walking behaviour (P < 0.05). In addition, there were significant effects of music on the average time spent standing (P < 0.01), lying and feeding (P < 0.001). Whereas no significant difference was found on the average time spent drinking. It was shown that there were significant differences in time spent lying (P < 0.01) and time spent feeding (P < 0.01) over time. Finally, there was a significant difference in the proportion of time spent lying (P < 0.001) as well as in the proportion of time spent feeding between control and music groups (P < 0.01). From this study, it can be concluded that exposing non-pregnant, non-lactating ewes to classical music is beneficial for ewes' welfare, due to the reduction of aggressive behaviour.

Changes in Ear Postures of Kid Goats in Response to Ear Tagging

“…Farm animals feel pain during routine husbandry procedures such as castration, disbudding, ear tagging and tail docking (Molony et al, 2002;Hussein, 2015, Guesgen et al, 2016Hempstead et al, 2018). It is well published that animals when have a pain increase the release of cortisol hormone and show pain-related behaviours include tail wagging, abnormal postures, rolling, lip curling and statue standing (Molony et al, 2012;Hussein, 2015); however, their normal behaviour is improved by classical music (Meshabaz et al, 2017). There is, recently, a growing interest of using face-related behaviour using ear posture and ear changes in farm animals (Proctor & Carder, 2014;Guesgen et al, 2016;McLennan et al, 2016).…”