Understanding sheep behaviour
About this book
The most important features of the behaviour of sheep are their marked sociality and the formation of a bond between mother and young. Sheep show a strong need to stay with their flock mates and become very distressed when isolated. Under farm conditions the social environment is mainly controlled by humans, and sheep are usually maintained in single-sex groups of similar age or size, the main exceptions being maleâfemale groups at mating and the motherâyoung dyad. Separating lambs from their mother at an early age and rearing them with artificial milk is also a frequent practice. This chapter examines the importance of understanding sheep sociality, sexuality, motherâyoung bonding to sheep welfare, as well as describing the impact of environmental conditions on sheep behaviour.
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Information
Table of contents
- 1âIntroduction
- 2âSociality of sheep
- 3âSheep reproduction
- 4âMotherhood in ewes
- 5âInfancy of lambs
- 6âEnvironmental conditions
- 7 Case study: improving the welfare of artificially reared lambs
- 8âSummary and future trends
- 9âWhere to look for further information
- 10âReferences
