Sheep

Influence of space allowance and housing conditions on the welfare, immune response and production performance of dairy ewes

The experiment used 45 Comisana ewes, divided into 3 groups of 15. The aim was to determine the effects of two different stocking densities and two different housing conditions on welfare, and on production performance of dairy ewes. The stocking...

Year Published: 2009Animal Type: Sheep

Citation: Caroprese M, Schena L, Muscio A, et al. 2009. Influence of space allowance and housing conditions on the welfare, immune response and production performance of dairy ewes. J Dairy Res. 76;66-73.

Feeding, resting and social behaviour in ewes housed in two different group sizes

The aim of this experiment was to investigate the effects of increased group size on eating- and resting behaviour, aggression and feed intake in housed ewes. During an initial period of 14 days 36 adult (2–6 years old) ewes of...

Year Published: 2009Animal Type: Sheep

Citation: Jorgensen GHM, Andersen IL, Berg S, et al. 2009. Feeding, resting and social behaviour in ewes housed in two different group sizes. App Anim Behav Sci. 116;198-203.

Effect of individual or paired housing during post-weaning on feed intake, growth rate and behaviour of lambs

The aim of this study was to compare the behaviour and weight gain of weaned lambs penned either in pairs or alone, with visual and tactile contacts between pens. A 2 × 2 factorial experiment was conducted over seven weeks....

Year Published: 2009Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Sheep

Citation: Villeneuve, L., Méthot, H., Cinq-Mars, D. et al. 2009. Effect of individual or paired housing during post-weaning on feed intake, growth rate and behaviour of lambs. Small Ruminant Research 85(2-3), 99-104.

Social buffering of the stress response: Diversity, mechanisms, and functions

Protracted or repeated activation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenocortical (HPA) system is associated with a variety of physical and psychological pathologies. Studies dating back to the 1970s have documented many cases in which the presence of a social companion can moderate HPA...

Year Published: 2009Animal Type: Bird, Dog, Finch, Guinea Pig, Macaque, Marmoset, Nonhuman Primate, Other Animal, Other Nonhuman Primate, Other Rodent, Rat, Rodent, Sheep, Squirrel Monkey

Citation: Hennessy MB, Kaiser S, Sachser N. 2009. Social buffering of the stress response: Diversity, mechanisms, and functions. Frontiers in Neuroendocrin. 30;470-82.

CCAC guidelines on: the care and use of farm animals in research, teaching and testing

These guidelines aim to provide information for investigators, animal care committees, facility managers and animal care staff that will assist in improving both the care given to farm animals and the manner in which experimental procedures are carried out. The...

Year Published: 2009Topics: Regulations & Ethical ReviewAnimal Type: Cattle, Chicken, Equine, Fowl, Goat, Pig, Sheep

Citation: Canadian Council on Animal Care. 2009. CCAC guidelines on: the care and use of farm animals in research, teaching and testing. Ottawa, Canada.

Space allowances for confined livestock and their determination from allometric principles

The amount of space provided to animals governs important elements of their behaviour and, hence, is critical for their health and welfare. We review the use of allometric principles and equations to estimate the static space requirements of animals when...

Year Published: 2009Animal Type: Cattle, Sheep

Citation: Pethericka, J. C., Phillips, C. J. C. 2009. Space allowances for confined livestock and their determination from allometric principles . Applied Animal Behaviour Science 117, 1-12.

Farm Animal Welfare in Great Britain: Past, Present and Future

The Council has examined the effectiveness of British policy on farm animal welfare since 1965 and sets out a strategy that will lead to steady improvements in welfare over the next 20 years. Proposals are made for Government and commercial...

Year Published: 2009Animal Type: All/General, Bird, Cattle, Chicken, Equine, Fowl, Pig, Sheep

Citation: Farm Animal Welfare Council 2009. Farm Animal Welfare in Great Britain: Past, Present and Future. Farm Animal Welfare Council, London, UK.

Farm Animal Behavior – Characteristics for Assessment of Health and Welfare (1st ed): Sheep

Each chapter follows a consistent pattern describing the behavioral characteristics of the species featured. Reference is made to the natural state before domestication, leading us through the various changes to the present, demonstrating along the way recognized behavioral needs of...

Year Published: 2011Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Handling, Housing, Husbandry & Management, Natural Behavior, Restraint, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Sheep

Citation: Ekesbo, I. 2011. Sheep. In: Farm Animal Behavior: Characteristics for Assessment of Health and Welfare (1st ed). Fraser, A. F. , Broom, D. M. (ed). CABI, Oxfordshire, UK. pp. 82-92.

Friends with benefits: Social support and its relevance for farm animal welfare

Despite growing interest in promoting positive welfare, rather than just alleviating poor welfare, potential measures of good welfare, and means to provide it, have remained elusive. In humans social support improves stress-coping abilities, health, and promotes positive psychological welfare. Therefore,...

Year Published: 2012Topics: Natural Behavior, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Cattle, Chicken, Equine, Fowl, Goat, Pig, Sheep

Citation: Rault, J.-L. 2012. Friends with benefits: Social support and its relevance for farm animal welfare. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 136(1), 1-14.

The effect of social buffering on fear responses in sheep (Ovis aries)

Fear in farm animals has been extensively studied because of its close relation to animal welfare. Numerous studies have categorized the behavioral responses of animals to stimuli that can elicit a fear reaction under social isolation conditions. However, farm animals...

Year Published: 2013Topics: Emotion, Pain, & Sentience, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Sheep

Citation: Gonzaleza, M., Averosa, X., de Herediaa, I. B. et al. 2013. The effect of social buffering on fear responses in sheep (Ovis aries). Applied Animal Behaviour Science 149(1-4), 13-20.