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Measuring lamb activity during lactation by actigraphy.

J A Abecia1, C Canudo1, C Palacios2

  • 1Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Ciencias Ambientales de Aragón (IUCA), Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.

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New research shows that young lambs develop circadian rhythms by week 4 of age. Twin lambs exhibit stronger social bonds and proximity to siblings compared to singletons, highlighting early social development.

Keywords:
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Area of Science:

  • Animal behavior
  • Chronobiology
  • Animal physiology

Background:

  • Understanding the development of circadian rhythms and social behavior in young mammals is crucial for animal welfare and management.
  • Actigraphy offers a non-invasive method to monitor locomotor activity and its temporal patterns in livestock.
  • Previous studies have explored activity patterns in lambs, but detailed analysis of early circadian rhythm development and social proximity using advanced technology is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the development of locomotor activity and circadian rhythms in lambs during the first four weeks of life.
  • To assess the social behavior of lambs, specifically their proximity and distance to other lambs, using Bluetooth technology.
  • To determine the influence of age (lactation week) and sex on lamb activity levels and social interactions.

Main Methods:

  • Twenty-two lambs were equipped with Bluetooth-enabled accelerometers to record locomotor activity (Vector Magnitude, VM) at 1-minute intervals.
  • Proximity and distance between lambs were calculated using signal strength from the accelerometers, programmed as receivers and beacons.
  • Circadian rhythms were analyzed by fitting time-series activity data to a 24-hour cosine curve.

Main Results:

  • Lambs exhibited higher activity levels in week 1 compared to week 4 of age (154 counts/min vs. 117 counts/min).
  • Female lambs showed significantly higher activity than male lambs.
  • Circadian rhythms in activity were only evident in week 4, not in the first week of life. Twin lambs demonstrated increased proximity to their siblings compared to non-twin lambs.

Conclusions:

  • Circadian activity rhythms are not established in lambs during the first week of life but emerge by week 4.
  • Lamb sex and age significantly impact locomotor activity levels.
  • Twin-born lambs display stronger social bonds and proximity to littermates, indicating early development of social attachment.