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Ledezma-Torres R, Sánchez-Dávila F, Rodríguez-Miranda D, Luna-Palomera C, Grizelj J, Vázquez-Armijo J, López-Villalobos N. Sexual performance and semen quality of pubertal lambs treated with different weaning methods. Arch Anim Breed 2022; 65:259-265. [PMID: 36035875 PMCID: PMC9399914 DOI: 10.5194/aab-65-259-2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The objective of this study was to determine the effect of the
weaning method on lamb stress, body weight, sexual behavior, and semen
quality of Saint Croix male lambs. The present study was carried out during
the late spring and summer of 2018 in the northeast of Mexico. Sixty male
lambs born as twins or triplets (3.2 ± 0.6 kg birth weight) and
weaned at 60 d of age (19.21 ± 1.8 kg weaning weight) were divided
into two weaning methods: complete separation from the dams (CS; the lambs
were moved to a pen that was at 500 m of distance from the dams) and
separation with contact from the dams (SCD); the lambs were physically
separated by a steel mesh that prevented the lambs from having the
possibility of sucking milk from their mothers, but they maintained
permanent visual and auditory contact. Cortisol levels were determined
3 d before and 7 d after weaning. Lambs were evaluated as 3-month-old lambs for sexual behavior and semen quality for 9 weeks. The
effects of the weaning method (M), week (W), and the interaction M × W were
significant on body weight and cortisol levels (P<0.001). The SCD
lambs had higher cortisol levels at 3, 5, and 7 d after weaning than CS
lambs (P<0.001). The CS lambs had higher body weight during the
first 4 weeks after weaning than SCD lambs (P<0.001). The weaning
method had no effect on scrotal circumference, sexual behavior, and semen
quality traits, except for progressive sperm motility, being better for the
lambs that were completely separated (P<0.05). The results from
this study show that complete separation of lambs and ewes at weaning is an
effective method to reduce lamb stress and improve lamb growth after
weaning, but it did not have long-term effects on sexual behavior and semen
quality of Saint Croix male lambs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rogelio Alejandro Ledezma-Torres
- Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria
y Zootecnia, Posgrado Conjunto FA-FMVZ, General Escobedo, CP
66050, Mexico
| | - Fernando Sánchez-Dávila
- Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Facultad de Agronomía,
Posgrado Conjunto FA-FMVZ, Laboratorio de Reproducción Animal, Unidad
Académica Marín, Marín, CP 66700, Mexico
| | | | - Carlos Luna-Palomera
- Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, División Académica de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Villahermosa, Tabasco, CP 86280, México
| | - Juraj Grizelj
- Universidad de Zagreb, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria, Zagreb, Croatia
| | | | - Nicolás López-Villalobos
- Universidad Autónoma del Estado de
México, Centro Universitario Temascaltepec, Temascaltepec,
CP 51300, Mexico
- School of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Palmerston North
4442, New Zealand
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Freitas-de-Melo A, Orihuela A, Hötzel MJ, Ungerfeld R. What Do We Know and Need to Know About Weaning in Sheep? An Overview of Weaning Practises, Stress and Welfare. FRONTIERS IN ANIMAL SCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fanim.2022.823188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Artificial weaning is the separation of the mother and her lamb, involving the forced ending of suckling and milk supply by the ewes to their lambs. Artificial weaning time varies depending on the purpose of each sheep farm and the characteristics of the lambs, including age and weight of the lambs, and their ability to eat solid food. Artificial weaning is performed from 24 h postpartum until around the age of natural weaning (up to 12 mo of age). Artificial weaning results in the breaking of the ewe-lamb bond, the end of suckling and the complete replacement of milk by solid food, frequently added to changes in both the physical and social environment. It triggers behavioural, physiological and immunological changes that generate negative consequences on the health of both ewes and lambs, as well as on the growth of the lambs, rising animal welfare concerns. As artificial weaning is considered one of the most stressful situations in the life of farm mammals, it is important to consider the factors involved in those responses to develop adequate strategies and improve sheep welfare at weaning. The most frequently used method is the abrupt separation of the ewes and their lambs. However, the adaptation of the animals after weaning can be improved by alternative weaning methods (e.g., progressive, two-steps weaning and mixed regimes), hormonal treatments (e.g., administration of progesterone), and pre- and postweaning management (e.g., the use of creeping feeding, and the presence of conspecifics or humans after weaning). This review presents and summarises information on the stress response and animal welfare issues at artificial weaning in sheep and some management practises that can be used to reduce these problems. The major points included are the ewe-lamb bond at birth and during the lactation period; the stress response at weaning; the factors involved in the stress response at weaning; the different types and weaning methods and their repercussions on animal welfare; and some strategies that can be used to improve sheep welfare at weaning. Lastly, we propose directions for research needed to develop practical alternatives to minimise sheep's stress response at weaning.
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de la Cruz-Cruz L, Bonilla-Jaime H, Orozco-Gregorio H, Tarazona-Morales A, Ballesteros-Rodea G, Roldan-Santiago P, Waytula M, Vargas-Romero J. Effects of weaning on the stress responses and productivity of water buffalo in different breeding systems: A review. Livest Sci 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2019.05.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Engmann O. Dairy cows - an opportunity in the research field of non-genetic inheritance? ENVIRONMENTAL EPIGENETICS 2018; 4:dvy014. [PMID: 30034822 PMCID: PMC6049035 DOI: 10.1093/eep/dvy014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2018] [Revised: 03/04/2018] [Accepted: 04/25/2018] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
More than 1 billion cattle are raised annually for meat and milk production. Dairy cows are repeatedly impregnated and separated from their calves, usually within the first 24 h after birth. Here, I suggest that dairy cows undergo a procedure comparable to the 'Maternal separation combined with unpredictable maternal stress' paradigm (MSUS), which is used to study the non-genetic inheritance (NGI) of phenotypes in rodents. I discuss what research on dairy cows may bring to the research field of NGI. The resulting research findings are likely to have benefits to our understanding of MSUS, NGI and consumer safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Engmann
- Brain Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurer Strasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
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Mora P, Mota D, Arch-Tirado E, Roldán P, Vázquez-Cruz C, Terrazas AM, Rosas M, Orihuela A. Behavior of lambs at different ages during brief periods of increased sensorial isolation from their mothers. J Vet Behav 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jveb.2017.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Henrique FL, Titto EAL, Zanella AJ, Hooper HB, Pulido-Rodriguez LF, Longo ALS, da Cunha Leme-dos-Santos TM, Pereira AMF, Titto CG. Simulated disease process during late pregnancy compromises developmental outcomes of lambs independently of the weaning method applied. Small Rumin Res 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2017.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Barnard S, Matthews LR, Messori S, Podaliri Vulpiani M, Ferri N. Behavioural reactivity of ewes and lambs during partial and total social isolation. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2014.11.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Mother-young spatial association and its relation with proximity to a fence separating ewes and lambs during enforced weaning in hair sheep (Ovis aries). Appl Anim Behav Sci 2007. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2006.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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The effect of mid-pregnancy shearing and litter size on lamb birth weight and postnatal plasma cortisol response. Small Rumin Res 2007. [DOI: 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2006.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Reducing mother-young separation distress by inducing ewes into oestrus at the day of weaning. Anim Welf 2006. [DOI: 10.1017/s0962728600030724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
AbstractThe aim of this study was to determine whether or not oestrus induction on the day of weaning would reduce the distress experienced by ewes upon separation from lambs. For this, 43 ewes, their eight week-old lambs and six mature rams were used. Prior to weaning, 21 of these ewes were induced to display oestrus on the day of mother-young separation (treated group [T]) while the remaining 22 untreated ewes served as controls (C). T and C ewes were housed together. Blood samples were collected on the day of weaning (prior to mother-young separation and 24 hours later) and then nine days later, for plasma progesterone (P4) and cortisol determination. Lambs were separated from their dams by a wire fence at weaning in full view of each other. Three rams were tethered to posts with 3 m plastic chains in the ewes' pen. T and C groups were simultaneously tested in identical test pens. C ewes showed a greater increase in serum cortisol concentration after separation from lambs (47.64 ± 4.26 n mol l–1) than T ewes (28.79 ± 6.29 n mol l–1). T ewes exhibited fewer vocalisations ewe–1h–1 and fewer vocalisations at 6, 12 and 18 h post separation than C ewes. On the day of weaning, more T ewes were seen to be situated away from lambs and in close proximity to the males, compared to the C group. Thus, more T than C ewes were mounted (14 as opposed to 3) and these received a greater number of mounts (1.02 ± 0.23 per hour, as opposed to 0.11 ± 0.06). It was concluded that by inducing ewes into oestrus at weaning it is possible to reduce the signs of separation distress.
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