Exploratory study of the maternal-filial relationship among sheep: factors that impact the performance of lambs in a locally adapted Pantaneiro flock

• Published in: Acta agriculturae Scandinavica. Section A, Animal science Vol. 73; no. 3-4; pp. 165 - 171
• Main Authors: Cansian, Karine, Longo, Maíza Leopoldina, da Silva, Adrielly Laís Alves, Rodrigues de Souza, Marcio, Costa, Carolina Marques, da Costa e Silva, Eliane Viana, Santos, Aylpy Renan Dutra, de Vargas Junior, Fernando Miranda
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Taylor & Francis 01-10-2024; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Animal behaviour; Birth weight; Exploratory behavior; Lamb; Maternal behavior; Parturition; Sheep; small ruminants; Suckling behavior; Weaning; weight gain
• DOI: 10.1080/09064702.2024.2317721
• EISSN: 1651-1972
• ISSN: 0906-4702

This paper reports on an exploratory study of maternal-filial relationships of Pantaneiro sheep naturalised to the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul and focuses on the importance of the behaviour of ewes and lambs between parturition, first suckling and weight at weaning. The average duration of lambing was 18 min, and 65% of the sheep were lying down; 48.8% of the sheep tended their lambs 15-30 min before the first suckling, while 73% of lambs initiated contact with the mother through vocalisation 10 min after birth. The lambs' birth weight was 4 ± 0.6 kg, and they were weaned at 42 days with an average weight of 12.9 ± 2.2 kg. To conclude, the data gathered during the study can help us better comprehend the adaptive traits of sheep that belong to the Pantaneiro genetic group.