Impacts of labour on interactions between economics and animal welfare in extensive sheep farms

This study quantified interactions between animal welfare and farm profitability in British extensive sheep farming systems. Qualitative welfare assessment methodology was used to assess welfare from the animal's perspective in 20 commercial extensive sheep farms and to estimate labour demand for welfare, based on the assessed welfare scores using data collected from farm inventories. The estimated labour demand was then used as a coefficient in a linear program based model to establish the gross margin maximising farm management strategy for given farm situations, subject to constraints that reflected current resource limitations including labour supply. Regression analysis showed a significant relationship between the qualitative welfare assessment scores and labour supply on the inventoried farms but there was no significant relationship between current gross margin and assessed welfare scores. However, to meet the labour demand of the best welfare score, a reduction in flock size and in the average maximum farm gross margin was often required. These findings supported the hypothesis that trade-offs between animal welfare and farm profitability are necessary in providing maximum animal welfare via on-farm labour and sustainable British extensive sheep farming systems.Sheep, Labour, Animal Welfare, Linear Programme, Livestock Production/Industries, C6, Q10, Q19, Q57,

Competitive ability of rams selected for high and low levels of sexual performance

International audienceThe objective of this study was to determine any differences in the competitive ability of rams differing in levels of sexual performance. Twenty sexually experienced Targhee-type rams were pre-selected from a population of 95 males for exhibiting relatively high and low ejaculation rates when individually exposed to oestrous ewes for 30 min. Each of 10 high performers (HP) were paired with each of 10 low performers (LP) on three occasions when competing for food (after food deprivation) and twice when competing for an oestrous female. Tests were 5 min in duration. Food-deprived HP and LP rams were equally aggressive when competing for a source of food that could only be accessed by one ram at a rime. Time of feeding by HP and LP rams did not differ. HP rams spent more time with the oestrous ewe and attained move mounts in a greater number of pairings than LP rams even though HP and LP rams did not differ in number of successful agonistic interactions (active displacements and successful defences) when competing for the ewe. It was concluded that HP and LP rams, taken as groups, do not differ in their basic competitive ability and that the greater mating success of HP rams can be explained by their higher levels of libido

Competitive ability of rams selected for high and low levels of sexual performance

International audienceThe objective of this study was to determine any differences in the competitive ability of rams differing in levels of sexual performance. Twenty sexually experienced Targhee-type rams were pre-selected from a population of 95 males for exhibiting relatively high and low ejaculation rates when individually exposed to oestrous ewes for 30 min. Each of 10 high performers (HP) were paired with each of 10 low performers (LP) on three occasions when competing for food (after food deprivation) and twice when competing for an oestrous female. Tests were 5 min in duration. Food-deprived HP and LP rams were equally aggressive when competing for a source of food that could only be accessed by one ram at a rime. Time of feeding by HP and LP rams did not differ. HP rams spent more time with the oestrous ewe and attained move mounts in a greater number of pairings than LP rams even though HP and LP rams did not differ in number of successful agonistic interactions (active displacements and successful defences) when competing for the ewe. It was concluded that HP and LP rams, taken as groups, do not differ in their basic competitive ability and that the greater mating success of HP rams can be explained by their higher levels of libido

Measures of libido and their relation to serving capacity in the ram

International audienceThe purpose of this study was to determine whether the ejaculation rate (serving capacity) of sexually experienced rams could be estimated by selected measures of sexual libido when rams were exposed to estrous ewes under conditions that prevented copulations. Twenty-four crossbred rams selected for either high or low rates of copulation were exposed to two restrained estrous ewes under three treatment conditions that 1) permitted the full range of precopulatory and copulatory behaviors, 2) permitted precopulatory behaviors and mounting but precluded copulation, or 3) permitted precopulatory behaviors but not mounting or copulation. Frequencies of precopulatory behaviors (bouts of leg-kicking and anogenital sniffing) in each of the three treatment conditions and mounting frequency in Treatment 2 occurred in proportion to the ram's characteristic ejaculation rate (P < .001), suggesting that the mating potential of rams can be estimated under conditions that preclude copulation. Frequencies of precopulatory behaviors and mounting were lower when the rams were allowed to copulate, due largely to periods of sexual inactivity after ejaculations

Measures of libido and their relation to serving capacity in the ram

International audienceThe purpose of this study was to determine whether the ejaculation rate (serving capacity) of sexually experienced rams could be estimated by selected measures of sexual libido when rams were exposed to estrous ewes under conditions that prevented copulations. Twenty-four crossbred rams selected for either high or low rates of copulation were exposed to two restrained estrous ewes under three treatment conditions that 1) permitted the full range of precopulatory and copulatory behaviors, 2) permitted precopulatory behaviors and mounting but precluded copulation, or 3) permitted precopulatory behaviors but not mounting or copulation. Frequencies of precopulatory behaviors (bouts of leg-kicking and anogenital sniffing) in each of the three treatment conditions and mounting frequency in Treatment 2 occurred in proportion to the ram's characteristic ejaculation rate (P < .001), suggesting that the mating potential of rams can be estimated under conditions that preclude copulation. Frequencies of precopulatory behaviors and mounting were lower when the rams were allowed to copulate, due largely to periods of sexual inactivity after ejaculations

Development of psychophysiological motoric reactivity is influenced by peripubertal pharmacological inhibition of gonadotropin releasing hormone action – results of an ovine model

This study reports the effects of peripubertal GnRH receptor inactivation on development of psychophysiological motoric reactivity (PMR; sometimes also called emotional reactivity), plasma cortisol concentrations and the relationship between plasma cortisol and PMR in male and female sheep. The study formed part of a larger trial and utilised 46 same sex twins. One twin remained untreated (control) while the other received a subcutaneous GnRH agonist (GnRHa Goserelin-Acetate) implant every 4th week, beginning at 8 and 28 weeks of age, in males and females, respectively (different, due to sex specific age of puberty). PMR, a measure of an animals’ response to social isolation, was measured over a two minute period at 8, 28 and 48 weeks of age, using a three axis accelerometer. During the test period vocalisation rate was recorded. Cortisol was assayed in blood samples collected on a single day when animals were 40 weeks of age PMR and vocalisation rate were significantly higher in females than males at all ages tested. At 28 weeks of age (20 weeks treatment) PMR was increased in treated males to the level seen in control females, by 48 weeks of age treated males’ PMR was significantly less than controls. In females, 20 weeks of GnRHa treatment (28–48 weeks of age) was not associated with differences in PMR. Cortisol concentrations were significantly higher in females than males but were not affected by treatment. Plasma cortisol concentrations were positively correlated with PMR; this relationship being driven by the treated animals in both sexes. The results demonstrate that PMR is sexually dimorphic and cortisol dependent in sheep from at least 8 weeks of age. Importantly, they also demonstrate that long-term treatment of males with a GnRH agonist results in changes in age-dependent development of PMR

Guidelines for the ethical use of animals in applied ethology studies

Applied ethology has a continuing interest in the promotion of animal welfare and the ethical treatment of animals used in research. However, in contrast to some other fields involving animal research, there are currently no guidelines written specifically for those engaged in applied ethology studies. We aim here, to provide members of the profession with a basis for structured self-evaluation of the ethical nature of their work, and to serve as inspiration for those planning research involving the use of animals. The first three sections of this document discuss the background to why ethical guidelines are needed in applied ethology studies and the relation between these guidelines and legislation. In the first section, we briefly discuss the relevant ethical principles and decision models. The main body of the guidelines then discuss how 'costs' to the animals in applied ethology research can be minimised (using the principles of replacement, reduction and refinement) and `benefits' maximised. An earlier version of this manuscript was presented to the Annual General Meeting of the International Society of Applied Ethology, which accepted this as the basis of ethical review for papers presented at their International Congresses

Manipulating odor cues facilitates add-on fostering in sheep

International audienceManipulating the odor of a ewe's own and alien lambs has been used to facilitate fostering a second lamb on ewes with a single offspring (add-on fostering). Previous research has demonstrated that familiar odor cues must be present on the own and alien young to achieve successful and rapid adoptions. Familiar odors may consist of natural own-lamb odors or artificial odors previously applied to the lambs involved. In the present study (Exp. 1), an artificial odorant (neatsfoot oil) was applied to the own and alien lambs shortly after birth to establish a common familiar odor. Acceptance tests were conducted daily over a 72 h period. In Exp. 2, neatsfoot oil was again used as a common artificial odorant to facilitate add-on fostering, but, in addition, the natural odors of own and alien lambs were transposed by exchanging cloth stockinette jackets worn by the lambs. In Exp. 1, 9 of 18 ewes (50%) met the criteria for accepting their own and alien lambs within 72 h. Seven of these nine ewes (78%) accepted the alien lamb immediately. In Exp. 2, 24 of 30 ewes (80%) accepted their own and alien young, and 20 of the 24 acceptances (83%) were immediate. We conclude that add-on fostering may be limited only by our inability to properly match familiar-odor cues on own and alien lambs