Lesson 14 - Small Ruminant Behavior Flashcards
Tail hangs down, grazing (eating behavior), head butting (fighting behavior), and young stay with flock (play behavior)
Do these characteristics belong to sheep or goats?
Sheep
Tail held up, browser (eating behavior), bucks rear and comes down with head (fighting behavior), and lung jumps and climbs on elevated objects (play behavior)
Do these characteristics belong to sheep or goats?
Goats
True or False: Goats are more independent and can easily separate from their group, while sheep are flock oriented and panic if separated
True
How are sheep flocks typically grouped?
Ewes, lambs, and immature rams form flocks with up to 20 ewes; rams flocks form with around 6 total in the group
How long do sheep spend grazing in a single day?
4 - 14 hours per day (dependent on feed availability, physiology, and pregnancy/lactation)
How large is a typical home range for sheep?
50 to >100 acres
What is the leadership structure amongst sheep?
Inconsistent and dependent on the situation; sheep exhibit “follower” behavior patterns
True or False: Sheep are prey species and are generally fearful, vigilant while eating, and panic when visually isolated from their flock
True
How do ewes communicate with lambs?
Low-pitched bleats
What occurs when lambs are separated from ewes?
Extreme stress for both (vocalizing, pacing, urinating)
What is the significance of olfaction in ewes bonding with their lambs?
Ewes were able to recognize their lamb by vision and hearing within the first few hours
Ewes can identify color and may reject a lamb if it is dyed a different color
What is “mismothering” in regards to sheep?
Maternal behavior directed toward a lamb that does not belong to that ewe
Ewes are known to steal lambs from other mothers!
What is the normal weaning age for lambs?
6 - 10 months
True or False: Sheep have poor spatial cognition and visual senses
False; both are excellent and highly developed in sheep
What is the affect of stress in sheep cognitive performance?
Tendency for high stress responses and fear can cause poor performance in situations that escalate their stress
What are some risks of improperly moving sheep?
Sheep panic, cannot respond properly, may run into walls
Negative responses intensify when isolated from the group!
True or False: Sheep have great memory and are capable of recognizing faces in photos, even without training
True
True or False: Sheep can make and execute plans when working towards a goal, and will changes plans to achieve the goal more effectively
True
What purposes does sheep farming serve in the US?
Milk, wool, meat, medical research
True or False: While goats are more independent than sheep by nature, forced isolation can cause stress
True
Roughly how long do goats spend foraging each day? Does this differ for kids?
45% for adult goats, and 60 - 65% for kids
What is the significance of horns to a goat? (Think behavior)
Social behavior (agnostic behavior/defense, feeding competition, rank, thrashing vegetation, scratching)
What is the most common social dynamic for goat herds?
Small (approx 12 goats), sexually segregated, complex social structure that constantly changes
What is the significance of olfaction in goats (in regard to maternal behavior)?
Recognition of their kid via sight and sound (usually within 4 hours of birth)
True or False: Kids do not leave the mother goat until it is time to wean
False; intensive mothering only lasts 1 - 3 days, then kid leaves to hide (for up to 6 weeks) but stays close enough to respond when called and to suckle
How do goats exhibit aggression towards each other (when in high density)?
- Frontal clashing (rear on hind legs, forceful descent)
- Butting (forceful head to head contact)
- Pushing (slowly pushing head toward another goat)
- Threatening (pawing/rushing forward toward another goat)
True or False: Goats exhibit frustration when unable to complete a task or find familiar faces in a group
True
True or False: Goats have poor memory and learning skills
False; goats can remember navigational routes for 3 months, remember specific people/herd members, and distinguish shapes/symbols
Name some general welfare issues for sheep and goats on farms
- Rough/inappropriate handling
- Poor pain mgmt for painful procedures
- Nutritional abnormalities
- Medical issues and lack of treatment
- Crowded, barren, poorly ventilated housing
- Poor regulation for transport and slaughter
How do sheep and goats differ in terms of pain response?
Sheep are very quiet, while goats tend to vocalize (kids often hide)
What are common stereotypies in housed/confined sheep?
Repetitive pacing, wool-biting, wool pulling, excessive itching
*rule out parasitic infection or other medical issue
True or False: Goats need mental stimulation for optimal welfare and love working on tasks
True
