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Interactions between behavioural development, plasma cortisol and thermoregulation in the neonatal lamb

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 November 2017

C. M. Dwyer
C. M. Dwyer*
Affiliation:
Behavioural Sciences Department, Animal Biology Division, SAC, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JG, UK
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Extract

The behavioural development of precocious mammals contributes to their survival in the neonatal period. In the sheep, neonatal behavioural progress is known to be affected by breed and birthweight (Dwyer, 2001), and is related to lamb survival (Dwyer et al., 2001). Lambs that are slow to stand and suck may be less mature at birth than lambs that stand quickly. Foetal cortisol plays an important role in the preparation of the lamb for postnatal life (Liggins, 1994) and may also play a role in the development of behavioural competency at birth. In this study differences in behavioural develoment and plasma cortisol were measured in two breeds of sheep known to differ in behavioural competency at birth. In addition, ability to maintain body temperature was also investigated.

Type
Poster Presentations
Information
Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science , Volume 2002 , 2002 , pp. 222
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Science 2002

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References

Dwyer, C. M. (2001) Does genotype or maternal influence determine the behaviour of the neonate? Proceedings of the 35th International Congress of ISAE Google Scholar
Dwyer, C. M., Lawrence, A. B. & Bishop, S. C. (2001) Effects of selection for lean tissue content on maternal and neonatal lamb behaviours in Scottish Blackface sheep. Animal Science 72: 555–571.Google Scholar
Liggins, G. C. (1994) The role of cortisol in preparing the fetus for birth. Reproduction Fertility Development 6: 141–150.Google Scholar