Behavior -- LA Flashcards
All small ruminant behaviors can be modified by what 3 ways?
- rearing - bottle vs in field
- training - feeding, repetition (pos reinforcement)
- flock or herd leaders - can intro new animals to modify flock behavior
T/F: When placing small ruminants in pins to be examined, its best to place them individually so they do not harm one another.
false – its actually best to place them with others so they can better relax. They become more stressed when they are alone.
In regard to herding, the __________ zone is described as losing control of the group, scattering across or out into the field.
escape
T/F: you need enough people to herd large animals, but sometimes just one person that the animals know is better than a few strangers
true – to many will cause chaos and escape rather than smooth herding.
Flight distance or zone is when animals …
move away in a controlled manner as a group when being approached
What is the alert distance for large animals?
animals will become aware of your presence and begin to group together
T/F: if one or two animals within the herd are nervous, they will cause panic within the group
true
(Goats or Sheep) are more individualistic animals that are curious and handled more often.
goats
which breeds of sheep do NOT demonstrate good herding behavior
hair breeds
barbados black belly
What behavior during herding enables you to pick out the sick animals from the group?
they separate themselves from the rest of the animals
What is the biggest downside to herding behavior?
they will stay as a group no matter what, so if they feel threatened and you are pushing them too much, they could go through fences together or even escape from pens to get back to the rest of the group.
How do small ruminant females in estrus behave?
vocalize, wag tail, urinate
they will breed through obstacles (fences, etc.)
How do small ruminant males behave in response to females in estrus?
flehman response
pawing
mounting
goats urinate on themselves
What is a behavior that sheep tend to do (that can be dangerous to the lamb) when they’ve just given birth?
they lick and paw at them to attempt to get them to stand, but this can be dangerous because its a little aggressive at times considering how small and unaware the babies are.
T/F: It is normal and expected for a newborn small ruminant to stand and stretch within 30-45 minutes after being born. If not, this signals to you that something is not right.
true
How can you tell if a small ruminant newborn has latched and is successfully nursing?
the tail will wiggle when nursing
What is the purpose of putting small ruminants in jugs post partum?
enhances bonding and keeps the mother-baby pair together (sometimes ewes will steal other ewe’s babies)
How long should a small ruminant with triplets be kept in jugs?
rule: 1 day + # of babies
so they would be kept in the jug for 4 days.
What is the difference in maternal behavior between goats and sheep?
sheep stay with their babies
goats leave and come back
Why do periparturient small ruminants isolate themselves from the herd?
to improve bonding
Maternal rejection can occur with small ruminants, what can farmers/owners do to prevent this?
select for mothering ability
Explain grafting orphan small ruminants
– when it should take place and what you would do to make it a successful graft
this requires fooling the dam soon after birth (12-24 hrs)
you can…
- place placental fluid or skins from dead newborns on/near her
- you can use salt, other distracting odors
- use restraint
what is the difference between sheep and goats in regard to feeding behavior? Similarities between the two?
sheep are grazers & avoid toxic plants
goats are browsers and may even select toxic plants, however will learn to avoid them if first ingestion turns out to be non-fatal
both will graze closer to manure piles than cattle
Which species hate clover – sheep or goat?
goats
Introducing new animals within a small ruminant herd is stressful and should be avoided when?
during certain times of the year such as late gestation and lambing as well as during the breeding season
What are the dominant behaviors of small ruminants?
butting – can cause serious head injury
riding subordinate males – can transmit dz (brucella)
What would be an appropriate building design for small ruminants to protect them the best?
lighted areas (chutes, etc.)
sheltered from wind and precipitation
protected areas from sunlight (to prevent sunburn)
T/F: goats seek shelter if it is raining so calf hutches are perfect for them.
true
What should the dimensions of fences and chutes be for small ruminants in order to have tighter animals for better handling?
fences – 38+ inches
chutes – <20 inches wide
T/F: too many shadows can make for more uncomfortable and more difficult handling of small ruminants?
true
T/F: small ruminant fleece only protects against cold weather, so we need to artificially protect them against heat by shaving biweekly
false
their fleece protects against heat and cold, but the heat protection is poor if humidity is high, so hyperthermia becomes a problem.
shelters can be a great addition to prevent overheating and sunburn
Which small ruminant breeds are more tolerant of heat?
nubian goats
pygmy goats
merino sheep
Boars are aggressive and almost always fight by slinging their head and slicing with their sharp tusks. What can you do to prevent this?
keep them separate from all others, unless they are raised together from birth.
Sows show aggression during what 2 time periods?
- when they have piglets (they are very protective)
- post-weaning when reintroduced (they bite udder and vulva and root eachother)
Pigs fight by biting which locations of other pigs?
ears, shoulder, face
Why is it important that we provide pigs with enough area for retreat?
pig fighting will continue until the dominant pig is satisfied and the loser retreats. Eye contact is important for fighting, if one pig puts its head in a dark corner/hole, the fighting will stop.
Why are hogs with floppy ears more skittish and agitated?
their vision is blocked by their ears.
Why will pigs bite if you stand over them and pet them?
they have short necks and cannot look up, therefore they cannot see what is grabbing/touching them.
Why do pigs housed alone eat less?
when one pig eats, the rest of the group tends to eat. So if a pig is housed alone, they will not have that group influence and thus will eat less and gain less.
All pigs nurse every _________.
55 minutes
which species has rooting behavior and scoops up their food, throws it into back of their mouth, chews, then swallows?
pigs
Pigs are actually clean animals. How/where do they urinate and defecate?
they urinate and defecate in a corner of a pen away from their sleeping area.