IIBYT   23944
INSTITUTO DE INVESTIGACIONES BIOLOGICAS Y TECNOLOGICAS
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
artículos
Título:
Effect of post-weaning handling strategies on welfare and productive traits in lambs.
Autor/es:
PASCUAL-ALONSO M.; MIRANDA-DE LA LAMA, G.C. ; AGUAYO-ULLOA, L. ; EZQUERRO, L. ; VILLARROEL, M. ; MARIN R. H.; MARIA G.A..
Revista:
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ANIMAL WELFARE SCIENCE
Editorial:
ROUTLEDGE JOURNALS, TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD
Referencias:
Lugar: Londres; Año: 2015 vol. 18 p. 42 - 56
ISSN:
1088-8705
Resumen:
Post-weaning management strategies that include an element of social enrichment may reduce weaning stress, improving welfare and productive performance. We analyze the effect of post- weaning handling strategies on welfare and production traits in lambs. After weaning, 36 lambs were assigned to 3 experimental groups with 12 lambs each (C: control, H: fattening with gentle human female contact, and E: fattening with two adult ewes). The average daily gain (ADG) was estimated. Blood samples and infrared thermography were taken to estimate stress variables. There were significant differences among treatments (in favour of alternative strategies) regarding production and stress variables (cortisol, glucose and creatine kinase). Results suggest that the lambs handled gently during the fattening are less reactive and better able to modulate their physiological stress. The E group adapted better than control to acute stress but was less efficient in modulating chronic stress. Both treatments showed higher slaughter live weights and better ADG compared to control. The use of social enrichment at weaning, especially to establish a positive human-animal bond, alleviates lamb weaning stress improving welfare and performance.