Physiological and Behavioural Responses to Weaning Stress in Deccani Lambs
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48165/ijapm.2026.42.03.02Keywords:
weaning stress, behaviour, vocalisation, physiological response, Deccani lambAbstract
Weaning is an unavoidable husbandry intervention in lamb-fattening enterprises, yet its physiological and behavioural consequences have not been documented in the Deccani breed, the predominant sheep of the semi-arid Deccan plateau of South India. The present study examined the short-term physiological and behavioural responses to abrupt maternal separation in Deccani lambs. Sixteen healthy lambs (60 days of age, uniform body weight) maintained at the Livestock Farm Complex, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, were allotted to two groups of eight: a weaned group (T1), separated from dams at 90 days, and an unweaned group (T2), retained with dams. Rectal temperature, respiration rate and pulse rate were recorded weekly, and seven behaviours (vocalisation, feeding, standing, idle lying, drinking, licking/self-licking and isolation) were quantified by scan sampling for one month pre-weaning and two months post-weaning. During the initial post-weaning phase (90–110 days), weaned lambs exhibited significantly higher (P
References
Atasoglu, C., Yurtman, I. Y., Savas, T., Gültepe, M., & Özcan, Ö. (2008). Effect of weaning on behavior and serum parameters in dairy goat kids. Animal Science Journal, 79(4), 435–442. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1740-0929.2008.00547.x
Damián, J. P., Hötzel, M. J., Banchero, G., & Ungerfeld, R. (2013). Behavioural response of grazing lambs to changes associated with feeding and separation from their mothers at weaning. Research in Veterinary Science, 95(3), 913–918. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rvsc.2013.08.001
De, K., Kumar, D., Saxena, V. K., Thirumurugan, P., & Naqvi, S. M. K. (2019). Effect of provision of shade on behaviour of sheep in hot semi-arid region. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 30, 12–16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2018.11.002
Etim, N. N., Williams, M. E., Evans, E. I., & Offiong, E. E. A. (2013). Physiological and behavioural responses of farm animals to stress. Open Journal of Animal Sciences, 3(1), 25–32. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojas.2013.31004
Kilgour, R. (1978). The application of animal behaviour and the humane care of farm animals. Journal of Animal Science, 46(5), 1478–1486. https://doi.org/10.2527/jas1978.4651478x
Martin, P., & Bateson, P. (1993). Measuring behaviour: An introductory guide (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press.
Mellor, D. J., Cook, C. J., & Stafford, K. J. (2000). Quantifying some responses to pain as a stressor. In G. P. Moberg & J. A. Mench (Eds.), The biology of animal stress: Basic principles and implications for animal welfare (pp. 171–198). CABI Publishing.
Snedecor, G. W., & Cochran, W. G. (1994). Statistical methods (8th ed.). Iowa State University Press.
Watts, J. M., & Stookey, J. M. (2000). Vocal behaviour in cattle: The animal’s commentary on its biological processes and welfare. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 67(1–2), 15–33. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0168-1591(99)00108-2
Weary, D. M., Jasper, J., & Hötzel, M. J. (2008). Understanding weaning distress. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 110(1–2), 24–41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2007.03.025
