Impact of Shearing Date on Behaviors and Performances of Pregnant Rahmani Ewes
The effect of shearing date on behaviors and performances of 20 pregnant Rahmani ewes was evaluated in four groups (5each). Ewes were shorn at 70, 100 and 130 days of pregnancy in the first three groups respectively, while the fourth group was maintained unshorn as a control. Some behavioral and physiological data related to ewes in addition, blood cortisol level were recorded. Results revealed a significant increase in the frequencies of comfort and eating behaviors, respiratory rate, pulse rate, lamb birth weight and blood cortisol level in early and mid pregnancy shorn ewes. Also, a slight increase in pregnancy period was observed for those ewes. On the other hand, social behaviors, and core temperature were not affected by shearing. These results conclude that prenatal shearing (early and mid-pregnancy) of ewes increases the frequencies of comfort and eating behaviors, and improves the survival rates of lambs by increasing their birth weights.
[1] L. H. Benjamin, and P. A. Patricia, "Developmental and hair-coat
determinants of grooming behavior in goats and sheep" Anim.
Behav., Vol. 67(1), 2004, pp. 11-19.
[2] H.J. Black, and D.M.B. Chestnutt, "Influence of shearing regime and
grass silage quality on the performance of pregnant ewes" Anim. Prod.,
vol. 51, 1990, pp. 573-582.
[3] M. A. Cam, and M. Kuran, "Shearing pregnant ewes to improve lamb
birth weight increases milk yield of ewes and lamb weaning weight"
Asian-australas J. Ani. Sci., vol. 17, 2004, pp. 1669-1673.
[4] O. R. Dyrumundsson, "Shearing time of sheep with special reference to
conditions in Northern Europe: a review" Icel. Agric. Sci., vol. 5, 1991,
pp. 39-46.
[5] N. M. Fogarty, D. G. Hall, and P. J. Holst, "The effect of nutrition in
mid-pregnancy and ewe live weight change on birth weight and
management for lamb survival in highly fecund ewes" Aust. J. Experi.
Agri., vol. 32, 1992, pp. 1-10.
[6] A. L. Hargreaves, and G. D. Hutson, "Changes in heart-rate, plasmacortisol
and haematocrit of sheep during a shearing procedure" Appl.
Anim. Behav. Sci., vol. 26, 1990, pp. 91-101.
[7] P. R. Kenyon, S. T. Morris, D. K. Revell, and S. N. McCutcheon,
"Shearing during pregnancy- a review of a policy to increase birth
weight and survival of lambs in New Zealand pastoral farming
systems" N. Z. Vet. J., vol. 51, 2003, pp. 200-207.
[8] S. T. Morris, and S. N. McCutcheon, "Selective enhancement of growth
in twin foetuses by shearing ewes in early gestation" Anim. Sci., vol.
65, 1997, pp. 105-110.
[9] S. T. Morris, P. R. Kenyon, D. L. Burnham, and S. N. McCutcheon,
"The influence of pre-lamb shearing on lamb birth weight and
survival" Proc. N. Z. Grasslands Assoc., vol. 61, 1999, pp. 95-98.
[10] J. B. Outhouse, "Sheep management techniques" in Handbook of
livestock Management Techniques, Surjeet publications, (R. A.
Battaglia, and V. B. Mayrose, eds.), India: New Delhi, 1987, pp. 405-
407.
[11] R. Pawelek, and C. Croney, "Understanding and Addressing Issues
Related to the Well-being of Livestock" in Animal Welfare, Oregon
State University. EM 8826. March 2003.
[12] D. K. Revell, S. T. Morris, Y. H. Cottam, J. E. Hanna, D. G. Thomas, S.
Brown, and S. N. McCutcheon, "Shearing ewes at mid-pregnancy is
associated with changes in fetal growth" Aust. J. Agri. Res., vol. 53,
2002, pp. 697-705.
[13] E. Rolleri, M. Zannino, S. O`Riandini, and R. Malvano, "Analysis of
cortisol" Clin. Chim. Acta, vol. 66, 1976, pp. 319.
[14] G. W. Snedecor, and W. G. Cochran, "Statistical Methods" 8th ed.
Iowa State University Press, Ames, IA., 1989.
[15] K. J. Staffords, and D. J. Mellor, "Castration, tail docking and
dehorning. What are the constraints" Proc. N. Z. Soc. Anim. Prod., vol.
53, 1993, pp. 189-195.
[16] M. E. Symonds, M. J. Bryant, and M. A. Lomax, "The effect of shearing
on the energy metabolism of the pregnant ewe" Br. J. Nut., vol. 56(3),
1986, pp. 635-643.
[17] M. E. Symonds, M. J. Bryant, and M. A. Lomax, "Metabolic adaptation
during lactation in winter-shorn sheep"J. Agri. Sci. Camb., vol. 114,
1990, pp. 201-205.
[18] B. C. Thompson, P. D. Muir, and N. B. Smith, "Litter size, lamb
survival, birth and twelve week weight in lambs born to cross-bred
ewes" Proc. N. Z. Grasslands Assoc., vol. 66, 2004, pp. 233-237.
[19] J. E. Vipond, M. E. King, D. M. Inglis, and E. A. Hunter, "The effect of
winter shearing of housed pregnant ewes on food intake and animal
performance" Anim. Prod., vol. 45, 1987, pp. 211-221.
[1] L. H. Benjamin, and P. A. Patricia, "Developmental and hair-coat
determinants of grooming behavior in goats and sheep" Anim.
Behav., Vol. 67(1), 2004, pp. 11-19.
[2] H.J. Black, and D.M.B. Chestnutt, "Influence of shearing regime and
grass silage quality on the performance of pregnant ewes" Anim. Prod.,
vol. 51, 1990, pp. 573-582.
[3] M. A. Cam, and M. Kuran, "Shearing pregnant ewes to improve lamb
birth weight increases milk yield of ewes and lamb weaning weight"
Asian-australas J. Ani. Sci., vol. 17, 2004, pp. 1669-1673.
[4] O. R. Dyrumundsson, "Shearing time of sheep with special reference to
conditions in Northern Europe: a review" Icel. Agric. Sci., vol. 5, 1991,
pp. 39-46.
[5] N. M. Fogarty, D. G. Hall, and P. J. Holst, "The effect of nutrition in
mid-pregnancy and ewe live weight change on birth weight and
management for lamb survival in highly fecund ewes" Aust. J. Experi.
Agri., vol. 32, 1992, pp. 1-10.
[6] A. L. Hargreaves, and G. D. Hutson, "Changes in heart-rate, plasmacortisol
and haematocrit of sheep during a shearing procedure" Appl.
Anim. Behav. Sci., vol. 26, 1990, pp. 91-101.
[7] P. R. Kenyon, S. T. Morris, D. K. Revell, and S. N. McCutcheon,
"Shearing during pregnancy- a review of a policy to increase birth
weight and survival of lambs in New Zealand pastoral farming
systems" N. Z. Vet. J., vol. 51, 2003, pp. 200-207.
[8] S. T. Morris, and S. N. McCutcheon, "Selective enhancement of growth
in twin foetuses by shearing ewes in early gestation" Anim. Sci., vol.
65, 1997, pp. 105-110.
[9] S. T. Morris, P. R. Kenyon, D. L. Burnham, and S. N. McCutcheon,
"The influence of pre-lamb shearing on lamb birth weight and
survival" Proc. N. Z. Grasslands Assoc., vol. 61, 1999, pp. 95-98.
[10] J. B. Outhouse, "Sheep management techniques" in Handbook of
livestock Management Techniques, Surjeet publications, (R. A.
Battaglia, and V. B. Mayrose, eds.), India: New Delhi, 1987, pp. 405-
407.
[11] R. Pawelek, and C. Croney, "Understanding and Addressing Issues
Related to the Well-being of Livestock" in Animal Welfare, Oregon
State University. EM 8826. March 2003.
[12] D. K. Revell, S. T. Morris, Y. H. Cottam, J. E. Hanna, D. G. Thomas, S.
Brown, and S. N. McCutcheon, "Shearing ewes at mid-pregnancy is
associated with changes in fetal growth" Aust. J. Agri. Res., vol. 53,
2002, pp. 697-705.
[13] E. Rolleri, M. Zannino, S. O`Riandini, and R. Malvano, "Analysis of
cortisol" Clin. Chim. Acta, vol. 66, 1976, pp. 319.
[14] G. W. Snedecor, and W. G. Cochran, "Statistical Methods" 8th ed.
Iowa State University Press, Ames, IA., 1989.
[15] K. J. Staffords, and D. J. Mellor, "Castration, tail docking and
dehorning. What are the constraints" Proc. N. Z. Soc. Anim. Prod., vol.
53, 1993, pp. 189-195.
[16] M. E. Symonds, M. J. Bryant, and M. A. Lomax, "The effect of shearing
on the energy metabolism of the pregnant ewe" Br. J. Nut., vol. 56(3),
1986, pp. 635-643.
[17] M. E. Symonds, M. J. Bryant, and M. A. Lomax, "Metabolic adaptation
during lactation in winter-shorn sheep"J. Agri. Sci. Camb., vol. 114,
1990, pp. 201-205.
[18] B. C. Thompson, P. D. Muir, and N. B. Smith, "Litter size, lamb
survival, birth and twelve week weight in lambs born to cross-bred
ewes" Proc. N. Z. Grasslands Assoc., vol. 66, 2004, pp. 233-237.
[19] J. E. Vipond, M. E. King, D. M. Inglis, and E. A. Hunter, "The effect of
winter shearing of housed pregnant ewes on food intake and animal
performance" Anim. Prod., vol. 45, 1987, pp. 211-221.
@article{"International Journal of Biological, Life and Agricultural Sciences:53237", author = "T. M. Mousa-Balabel and M. A. Salama", title = "Impact of Shearing Date on Behaviors and Performances of Pregnant Rahmani Ewes", abstract = "The effect of shearing date on behaviors and performances of 20 pregnant Rahmani ewes was evaluated in four groups (5each). Ewes were shorn at 70, 100 and 130 days of pregnancy in the first three groups respectively, while the fourth group was maintained unshorn as a control. Some behavioral and physiological data related to ewes in addition, blood cortisol level were recorded. Results revealed a significant increase in the frequencies of comfort and eating behaviors, respiratory rate, pulse rate, lamb birth weight and blood cortisol level in early and mid pregnancy shorn ewes. Also, a slight increase in pregnancy period was observed for those ewes. On the other hand, social behaviors, and core temperature were not affected by shearing. These results conclude that prenatal shearing (early and mid-pregnancy) of ewes increases the frequencies of comfort and eating behaviors, and improves the survival rates of lambs by increasing their birth weights.
", keywords = "behavior, blood cortisol, pregnant rahmani ewes,shearing.", volume = "4", number = "5", pages = "259-5", }
