Parity and litter size effects on maternal behavior of Small Tail Han sheep in China

Abstract

The effects of parity and litter size on maternal behavior of Small Tail Han sheep was investigated at Linyi University, China. Sixty-eight ewes were observed from parturition to weaning. Continuous focal animal sampling was used to quantify the duration of maternal behaviors. Ewe feces were collected every 2 days and estradiol concentration was measured with an enzyme immunoassay kit. All lambs were weighed 24 h after parturition and again at 35 days of age. Parity increased sucking, following, grooming, low-pitched bleat, head-up and udder-refusal behavior and decreased aggressive behavior (P < 0.01, P < 0.01, P < 0.05, P < 0.05, P < 0.05, P < 0.05, P < 0.01, respectively), and litter size showed significant effect on sucking, following and low-pitched bleat behavior (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, P < 0.05, respectively). The lambs of multiparous ewes were significantly heavier than primiparous ewes at birth (P < 0.01) and were significantly heavier at weaning age (P < 0.01). Similar results were founded for birth weight and weaning weight gain in litter size (P < 0.01, P < 0.01, respectively). Estradiol concentration in feces was higher in multiparous ewes than primiparous ewes. Parity and litter size may have effects on maternal behavior during lactation. Ewes that have 2-3 lambs may be more suitable for production of Small Tail Han sheep in China.

The Expression of Maternal Behavior in Chinese Hu Sheep and its Effects on Lamb Survival and Body Weight

“…The body weights of newborn and 7-day-old lambs in multiparous ewe group were significantly higher than the primiparous ones (P<0.05), but no significant difference was observed at 14-day-old and 35-day-old (P>0.05). The similar results were founded in the Small-Tail Han sheep of China that the weight of lambs of multiparous ewes tended to beheavier than those of primiparous ewes at birth (Lv et al, 2015;Lv et al, 2016). While by weaning at 35 days of age, lamb weight of the Small-Tail Han sheep was significantly greater in lambs of multiparous ewes compared with primiparous ewes.…”

“…Eight characteristic parametersof maternal behavior observed specifically in this experiment are shown in Table 1. These behaviors were recorded as described by previous reports (Dwyer and Lawrence 1998;Dwyer 2008b;Everett-Hincks and Dodds 2008;Lv et al, 2015;Lv et al, 2016).…”

Ovarian proteomic study reveals the possible molecular mechanism for hyperprolificacy of Small Tail Han sheep

“…Sheep breeds with high prolificacy, such as Small Tail Han sheep, attract many attentions in livestock breeding. Moreover, Dorset sheep is another kind of widely bred sheep that is well-know for its high growth rate 2 16 17 18 19 . However, Dorset sheep has a lower prolificacy than the Han sheep does.…”

Dairy Buffalo Behavior: Calving, Imprinting and Allosuckling

“…This interaction is critical, since oxytocin is responsible for initiating maternal behavior, while estrogens maintain the above-mentioned behaviors [ 76 ]. In relation to this, although there are no reports on water buffalo, in other ruminants high estrogen levels and a low cortisol concentration are associated with an enhanced maternal performance [ 77 ].…”