Behavioral Response of Pregnant Ewes to High Ambient Temperature in Loose Housing System

Authors

  • Geng Ailian Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medcine
  • Zang Qiang Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences
  • Chen Gang Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences
  • Shi Zhengxiang Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences
  • Li Baoming China Agricultural University

Keywords:

Pregnant ewes, Loose housing, Behavior, High temperature

Abstract

Abstract. In order to investigate the behavioral responses of pregnant ewes to high ambient temperature in a loose housing system , eighty-seven pregnant ewes (Chinese little fat-tailed sheep, Ovis aries) from the same loose house were chosen, and nine ewes with the similar body weight and age were marked for later individual behavioral observation. The ambient temperature and relative humidity were recorded, and the individual behaviors of the pregnant ewes were observed continuously from 04:50 to 20:00 once every other day for 14 days. The behavioral state of all the pregnant ewes was recorded once every hour from 5:00 to 20:00, the number of pregnant ewes selecting specific lying areas (designated as area A and area B), was recorded at 15 minute intervals from 12:00 to 17:00 everyday. The final results show that the behavioral durations are significantly different in eating and drinking, rumination, rest, and locomotion for pregnant ewes (P

Author Biography

Geng Ailian, Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medcine

PhD Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medcine

Downloads

Published

2008-09-04

How to Cite

Ailian, G., Qiang, Z., Gang, C., Zhengxiang, S., & Baoming, L. (2008). Behavioral Response of Pregnant Ewes to High Ambient Temperature in Loose Housing System. International Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, 1(1), 31–36. Retrieved from https://ijabe.migration.pkpps03.publicknowledgeproject.org/index.php/ijabe/article/view/20

Issue

Vol. 1 No. 1 (2008): IJABE

Section

Structures and Bio-environmental Engineering

License

IJABE is an international peer reviewed open access journal, adopting Creative Commons Copyright Notices as follows.


Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:


  1. Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.

  2. Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.

  3. Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).