Respuestas de estrés provocadas por el aislamiento en corderos de raza corriedale: efecto de la presencia de / ovejas selectivas y no selectivas / Isolation induced stress responses in corriedale lambs: effects of the presence of selective and non-selective ewes

RESUMO

In order to assess the effects of isolation during the first hours of life on the behavior of lambs, twenty Corriedale lambs were observed. They remained with their mothers during the first post-partum hour and were afterwards tested in their presence, isolated again and finally observed when reunited. The same sequence was repetead at 4, 24 and 48 hours after birth. The lambs’ responses when placed with a selective and a non-selective postparturient alien ewe, were also registered. From the first hour after birth, the lambs showed significantly more stress responses when isolated than when together with their mothers. The presence of an alien postparturient ewe also decreased the stress responses of the lambs, regardless of acceptance or rejection by alien ewes. The lambs’ gregarious behavior seems to be a very important factor in reducing stress provoked by isolation [AU]