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Early handling increases lamb affinity for humans

Markowitz1, Dally, Gursky

  • 1Department of Animal Science, University of California at Davis

Animal Behaviour
|March 26, 1998
PubMed
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Early handling and feeding of domestic sheep (Ovis aries) significantly reduces lamb timidity towards humans. Positive human contact within the first few days of life enhances socialization without disrupting the lamb-dam bond.

Area of Science:

  • Animal Behavior
  • Animal Husbandry
  • Veterinary Science

Background:

  • Socialization to humans improves manageability and reduces timidity in domestic animals.
  • Early life experiences significantly influence an animal's subsequent behavior and temperament.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if early handling and artificial feeding of domestic sheep (Ovis aries) reduce timidity towards humans.
  • To determine the optimal age for implementing such interventions.

Main Methods:

  • Forty-eight lamb twin sets were divided into four treatment groups based on age (1-3, 3-5, 5-7, 7-9 days).
  • Treatment lambs received milk replacer and handling four times daily for 5-minute periods.
  • Temperament tests, including stationary and moving human encounters, were conducted at various ages.

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Main Results:

  • Treatment lambs exhibited significantly greater affinity for humans compared to control twins.
  • Lambs treated between 1-3 days of age showed the most pronounced reduction in timidity.
  • Early positive human contact led to increased proximity seeking and reduced avoidance behaviors.

Conclusions:

  • Approximately 40 minutes of positive human contact during the first 1-3 days of life effectively reduces lamb timidity.
  • Early socialization can be achieved without negatively impacting the crucial lamb-dam bond.
  • This early intervention has positive implications for animal management and welfare.