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PRINT: ISSN 2221-1896
ONLINE : ISSN 2223-0343
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Maternal and lamb behaviour of the Karacabey Merino ewes at pre- and
post-parturition |
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Ayhan Ceyhan1*,
Tamer Sezenler2, Mehmet Akif Yüksel 2 and Mesut
Yıldırır2 |
1Nigde University, Bor Vocational School, Bor, Nigde, Turkey; 2Sheep
Research Station, Bandırma, Balıkesir, Turkey |
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Abstract |
The objective of this study was
to investigate the maternal and the lamb behaviours of the Karacabey
Merino ewes at pre-parturition and post-parturition periods. Data were
collected from 7 heads primiparous and 11 head multiparous ewes and
their 19 heads offspring. The average value of ewes' standing/laying number
at lambing was not significantly (P>0.05) affected on maternal
experience, birth type and sex. The primiparous (15.198 number) ewes
have higher number of standing/laying than the multiparous (10.033
number) ewes for the duration of the parturition. The duration of the
parturition for the primiparous and the multiparous ewes was 02:19:00
and 1:06:59 hour: minute: second, respectively. The mean values of lamb
birth weight, the number of standing/laying, duration of the first head
act, duration of the first standing, duration of the first walking,
duration of the going towards the teat and duration of the first
suckling were 4.87 kg, 10.10 number, 01:34, 16:18, 21:13, 24:36 and
40:35 minute: second, respectively. Experienced ewes began to lick the
head and neck of lambs after birth, however, ewes which had given birth
for the first time started to lick other parts of the lamb's body. When
the lamb attempted to suck, the ewe's circling movement, backing and
moving forward behaviours were most often observed among primiparous
ewe, whereas, with the multiparous ewes, these negative characteristic
were observed very rarely. It can be concluded that multiparous ewes
become familiar with their own lamb much quicker compared with the
primiparous ewes. |
Keywords:
Karacabey Merino sheep;
maternal behaviour; lamb behaviour |
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To cite this article:
Ceyhan A, T Sezenler, MA Yüksel and M Yıldırır, 2012.
Maternal and lamb behaviour of the Karacabey Merino ewes at pre- and
post-parturition.
Res.
Opin. Anim. Vet. Sci., 2(6), 402-409. |
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