What Do We Know and Need to Know About Weaning in Sheep? An Overview of Weaning Practises, Stress and Welfare
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,...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Animal Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fanim.2022.823188/full |
| _version_ | 1818973378693824512 |
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| author | Aline Freitas-de-Melo Agustín Orihuela Maria José Hötzel Rodolfo Ungerfeld |
| author_facet | Aline Freitas-de-Melo Agustín Orihuela Maria José Hötzel Rodolfo Ungerfeld |
| author_sort | Aline Freitas-de-Melo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T15:23:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fde448b5e2be4359a6d26691e74a6bdf |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2673-6225 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T15:23:13Z |
| publishDate | 2022-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Animal Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-fde448b5e2be4359a6d26691e74a6bdf2022-12-21T19:35:57ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Animal Science2673-62252022-02-01310.3389/fanim.2022.823188823188What Do We Know and Need to Know About Weaning in Sheep? An Overview of Weaning Practises, Stress and WelfareAline Freitas-de-Melo0Agustín Orihuela1Maria José Hötzel2Rodolfo Ungerfeld3Departamento de Biociencias Veterinarias, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, UruguayFacultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias de la Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca, MexicoLaboratório de Etologia Aplicada e Bem-Estar Animal, Departamento de Zootecnia e Desenvolvimento Rural, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, BrazilDepartamento de Biociencias Veterinarias, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, UruguayArtificial 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.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fanim.2022.823188/fullseparationweaning methoddistressbehavioureweslambs |
| spellingShingle | Aline Freitas-de-Melo Agustín Orihuela Maria José Hötzel Rodolfo Ungerfeld What Do We Know and Need to Know About Weaning in Sheep? An Overview of Weaning Practises, Stress and Welfare Frontiers in Animal Science separation weaning method distress behaviour ewes lambs |
| title | What Do We Know and Need to Know About Weaning in Sheep? An Overview of Weaning Practises, Stress and Welfare |
| title_full | What Do We Know and Need to Know About Weaning in Sheep? An Overview of Weaning Practises, Stress and Welfare |
| title_fullStr | What Do We Know and Need to Know About Weaning in Sheep? An Overview of Weaning Practises, Stress and Welfare |
| title_full_unstemmed | What Do We Know and Need to Know About Weaning in Sheep? An Overview of Weaning Practises, Stress and Welfare |
| title_short | What Do We Know and Need to Know About Weaning in Sheep? An Overview of Weaning Practises, Stress and Welfare |
| title_sort | what do we know and need to know about weaning in sheep an overview of weaning practises stress and welfare |
| topic | separation weaning method distress behaviour ewes lambs |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fanim.2022.823188/full |
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