Certain behavioral characteristics and stress responses of out-of-breeding ewes and rams during an intensive fattening program

Authors : Hülya YALÇINTAN, Elif ERGÜL EKİZ, Bülent EKİZ, Ömür KOÇAK, Deniz AKTARAN BALA, Alper YILMAZ

Pages : 97-102

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Publication Date : 0000-00-00

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :  The aim was to investigate behaviors and stress responses of rams and ewes in an intensive fattening period. Out-of-breeding rams insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Hemsin = 10, Karakul = 10); and ewes insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Hemsin = 8, Karakul = 10); were used in the study. Sheep and rams belonging to each breed were placed into four different pens. Behavioral observations insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(individual, feeding, abnormal self-grooming behaviors); were performed 2 days a week for two groups a day for 1 h. Blood samples were collected at the beginning, at the 4th week, and at the end of the fattening period. Karakul ewes displayed significantly more feeding and rumination behavior than Hemsin ewes, while there was no significant difference between ram groups. Ewes displayed more lying and rumination behavior than rams in the current study. On the other hand, rams were more active than ewes and also showed more abnormal behavior insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(butting other animals); during the fattening period. Sheep breed had no influence on packed cell volume insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(PCV);, hemoglobin insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Hb); concentration, or cortisol level at any sampling time. PCV, Hb, and cortisol levels at the middle of the fattening period were higher in ewes than rams. In conclusion, the behavioral repertoire of Hemsin and Karakul breeds in intensive fattening does not reveal any stress responses.
Keywords : Breed effect, sex effect, behavior, fattening