Average life expectancy is 10-12.
Life expectancy
Typically, the life expectancy of animals increases with size. For example, cows usually live longer than sheep. The life expectancy of sheep is similar to dogs, somewhere between 10 and 20 years. The average is about 10 to 12 years. However, the length of a sheep's productive life tends to be much less. This is because a ewe's productivity usually peaks between 3 and 6 years of age and usually begins to decline after age 7. As a result, most ewes are removed from the flock before they are 10 years old. In harsh environments, ewes are usually culled at a younger age because once their teeth start breaking down, it is difficult for them to maintain their body condition. It is possible fo ewes to be productive past 10 years of age, if they are well fed and managed and stay healthy.
You can approximate the age of
a sheep by looking at its teeth.
The approximate age of sheep can be determined by the teeth, as illustrated above. At birth, lambs have eight milk teeth, or temporary incisors, arranged in four pairs on the lower jaw. The central pair of temporary incisor teeth is shed and replaced by the permanent teeth at approximately 1 year of age. At 2 years, the second pair of milk teeth is replaced by a pair of permanent incisors. At 3 and 4 years, the third and fourth pairs of permanent teeth appear. At 4 years of age the sheep has a "full mouth." When a ewe loses some of her incisor teeth, she is called a "broken mouth." When she loses all of her teeth she is called a "gummer."
A sheep's normal body
temperature is 102 to 103F Vital Signs
A sheep's vital signs can help determine whether it is sick.
Vital signs Range
Body Temperature 102-103F
Heart rate 60-90 per minute
Respiration rate 12-20 per minute
Heart and respiration rates are faster in lambs than sheep. You can also listen to the sounds of the sheep's rumen (using a stethoscope) to find out how it is doing. Rumen sounds or movement should occur one to two times per minute.
"Cast" Sheep
A sheep that has rolled over on its back is called a "cast" sheep. It may not be able to get up. It happens mostly with short, stocky sheep with heavy fleeces on flat terrain. Heavily
pregnant ewes are most prone. Cast sheep become distressed and can die within a short time if not rolled back into a normal position. When back on their feet they may need to be supported for a few minutes before release to ensure they are steady.
A cast sheep can die.
. . New Words . .
Body temperature - heat of body measured in degrees; usually measured to obtain a quick evaluation of an animal's health.
Cull - remove from the flock.
Heart rate - the number of times the heart beats in one minute.
Incisor - any of the four front teeth in either the upper or lower jaw.
Life expectancy - the number of years an indivdual is expected to live based on statistics.
Milk teeth - baby teeth or first teeth.
Respiration rate - the number of breaths an animal makes per minute.
Stethoscope - the instrument used to listen to the heart and other sounds in the body.
Taxonomy - the science of classifying plants and animals into groups with similar features.
Vital signs - physical signs that indicate an individual is alive, such as heart beat, breathing rate, and temperature.
Look at Their Tails
The easiest way to tell the difference between a sheep and a goat is to look at their tails. A goat's tail will go up (unless the goat is frightened, sick, or in distress). Sheep tails hang down and are often docked (cut off) for health and sanitary reasons.
Goat tails go up.
Sheep tails hang down.
Grazing vs. Browsing
One of the biggest differences between sheep and goats is their feeding behavior and diet selection. Goats are natural browsers, preferring to eat leaves, twigs, vines, and shrubs. They are very agile and will stand on their hind legs to eat vegetation. Sheep are grazers, preferring to eat short, tender grass and clover. They like weeds and can graze very close to the soil surface.
Browsers
Grazers
Who's Smarter?
Sheep and goats behave quite differently. People often say that goats are "smart" because they are very curious and inquisitive. They are more independent than sheep, who are usualy aloof to people. People often say that sheep are "stupid" because of their strong "flock mentality." A sheep will become very agitated if it is separated from the rest of the flock. However, it is this flocking behavior that provides their best defense against predators. Neither species is smart or stupid. They are just characterized by different types of behavior that enhances their survival in the wild.
Independent
Flock mentality
Click HERE to learn more differences
between sheep and goats.
. . New Words . .
Genus - a group of closely related species.
Species - a group of organisms which are capable of interbreeding to produce viable offspring.
Chimera - an animal formed from two different animals, that is from two different embryonic sources.
Chromosomes - a structure in the nucleus of cells which contains genes (genetic material).
Hybrid - the offspring of two animals or plants of different races, breeds, varieties, species, or genera.
Grazer - an animal that eats grasses and other ground-growing non-woody plants.
Browser - an animal that eats highly nutritious twigs and shrubs.
Sheep are over one year of age. They have usually produced offspring. Lambs are less than one year of age. They have usually not produced offspring. Lamb is also the term for the flesh of a young domestic sheep eaten as food.
Ewe
Lambing
A
mature female sheep is called a ewe. Yoe is a slang term for ewe. A young female is called a ewe lamb. The process of giving birth to lambs is called lambing.
Ram
Wether
A
mature male sheep is called a ram or buck. A young male is called a ram lamb. In parts of the United Kingdom, a ram is called a tup and the mating season is called tupping. A castrated (neutered) male sheep is called a wether. Wethers are less aggressive than rams. George is a wether.
Yearling
Flock
A yearling is an animal between 1 and 2 years of age that may or may not have produced offspring. In other countries, a yearling ewe is called a hogget, shearling, gimmer, theave, or teg. A group of sheep is called a flock. Larger groups of sheep are called bands or mobs.
In two shakes of a lamb's tail
Almost all lambs are born with tails. The length of a lamb's tail is intermediate between the length of its mother (dam) and father's (sire) tail. Tail length is highly affected by genetics (84 percent of differences).
Crossbred Southdown lamb
Katahdin lamb
The purpose of a sheep's tail is to protect the anus, vulva, and udder from weather extremes. Sheep lift their tail when they defecate and use their tail, to some extent, to scatter their feces.
Katahdin ewe and lambs
Persian Blackhead Ewe
Under modern sheep production systems, tails are usually docked (removed) to prevent fecal material from collecting on the tail and hindquarters of the sheep, which can result in fly strike. Tail docking also makes it easier to shear the sheep. The tail does not interfere with breeding.
Bluefaced Leicester Ewe Lamb
Lincoln show flock
There are different methods that can be used to dock lambs' tails. It is recommended that lambs be docked at a young age to minimize the stress and pain experienced by the lamb. The dock (tail) should be left long enough to cover the ewe's vulva and an equivalent length on a male lamb.
Click HERE to learn more about tails.
. . New Words . .
Dock - remove or shorten the tail of an animal (verb). A short or shortened tail of certain animals (noun).
Flystrike - when flies lay eggs which hatch into maggots and attack the flesh.
Udder - the glandular organ (of sheep, cows, and goats) in which milk is secreted and stored.
Vulva - external parts of the female genitalia (sexual organs).
Anus - the opening through which solid waste leaves the body.
Follow the Leader
Wait For Me
Sheep have a strong instinct to follow the leader. When one sheep decides to go somewhere, the rest of the flock usually follows, even if it is not a good decision. For example, if the lead sheep jumps over a cliff, the others are likely to follow. Even from birth, lambs are conditioned to follow the older members of the flock.
Crossbred Katahdin Lambs
Icelandic Leadersheep
Photo courtesy of Lavender Fleece
Leadersheep
There is a certain strain of sheep in Iceland known as leadersheep. Leadersheep are highly intelligent animals that have the ability and instinct to lead a flock home during difficult conditions. They have an exceptional ability to sense danger. There are many stories in Iceland of leadersheep saving many lives during the fall roundups when blizzards threatened shepherds and flocks alike.
Click HERE to learn more about leadersheep.
Safety in Numbers
Sheep are gregarious. They will stay together in a group when grazing. A sheep will become agitated if it is separated from the group. It is banding togther in large groups that protects sheep from predators because predators will go after the outliers in the flock.
Montana Range Flock
Sheep are social
Sheep are a very social animal. Animal behaviorists have pointed out that sheep require the presence of at least 4 or 5 sheep which, when grazing maintain a visual link to each other.
Katahdin Sheep
Merino Flock
Flocking Together
Flocking instinct is strongest in the fine-wool breeds, but exists in all sheep breeds to some extent. It is the sheep's flocking instinct that allows sheep herders to look after large numbers of sheep and lambs.
Click HERE to learn about other sheep behaviors.
. . . New Words . . .
Instinct -behaviours which do not need to be learned. They help an animal survive.
Gregarious - tending to form a group with others of the same kind.
Social - tending to move or live together in groups or colonies of the same kind.
Smart Sheep
People often call sheep "stupid," because they don't act independently. Sheep are not stupid. Their only protection from predators is to stay in the flock and follow the sheep in front of them. At the same time, there is a growing body of evidence that sheep may actually possess some smarts.
Clever sheep foil cattle guard
Hungry sheep on the Yorkshire Moors (Britain) taught themselves to roll 8 feet (3 meters) across hoof-proof metal cattle grids and raid villagers' valley gardens. According to a witness, "They lie down on their side, or sometimes their back, and just roll over and over the grids until they are clear. I've seen them doing it. It is quite clever, but they are a big nuisance to villagers."
Source: BBC News, July 2004
I'll always remember ewe.
A study of sheep psychology has found man's woolly friend can remember the faces of more than 50 other sheep for up to two years. They can even recognize a familiar human face. The hidden talents of sheep revealed by a study in the journal Nature suggest they may be nearly as good as people at distinguishing faces in a crowd. Researchers say, "Sheep form individual friendships with one another, which may last for a few weeks. It's possible they may think about a face even when it's not there." The researchers also found female sheep had a definite opinion about what made a ram's face attractive
Sheep have a remarkable memory for faces.
Sheep can learn and remember
"A-Mazing" sheep
According to researchers in Australia, sheep can learn and remember. Researchers have developed a complex maze test to measure intelligence and learning in sheep, similar to those used for rats and mice. Using the maze, researchers have concluded that sheep have excellent spatial memory and are able to learn and improve their performance. And they can retain this information for a six-week period. The maze uses the strong flocking instinct of sheep to motivate them to find their way through. The time it initially takes an animal to rejoin its flock indicates smartness, while subsequent improvement in times over consecutive days of testing measures learning and memory.
Watch the maze test - Video of sheep going through the maze (10 Mb)
Iceland's "Leader Sheep"
The Icelandic leader sheep is a separate line within the Icelandic breed of sheep. As the name implies these sheep were leaders in their flocks. The leadership ability runs in bloodlines and is equally in males and females. Sheep of this strain have the ability, or instinct, to run in front of the flock, when it is driven home from the mountain pastures in autumn, from the sheep sheds to the winter pasture in the morning and back home in the evening, through heavy snowdrifts, over ice covered ground, or across rivers. Sometimes the Leaders would take the whole flock of grazing sheep on winter pasture back to the farm, early in the day, if a blizzard was on its way.
Leader sheep are known for their leader
characteristics and a specific sense of directions.
Photos courtesy of Lavender Farm
Sheep can learn which medicine cures them.
"Self-medicating" sheep
New research is suggesting that sick sheep could actually be smart enough to cure themselves. Australian researchers believe that sick sheep may actually seek out plants that make them feel better. There has been previous evidence to suggest that animals can detect what nutrients they are deficient in and can develop knowledge about which foods are beneficial or toxic.
. . . New Words . . .
Cattle guard - a type of obstacle to prevent hoofed animals, such as sheep or cows from passing. It consists of a grid of bars or tubes.
Maze - complex system of paths or tunnels in which it is easy to get lost.
Spatial - pertaining to the location of points in three-dimensional space.
Sheep Senses
Because they are a prey animal, sheep require excellent
senses to enhance their chances for survival in the wild.
EYES
Sheep depend heavily on their vision. They have excellent peripheral vision and can see behind themselves without turning their heads. However, they have poor depth of perception. They cannot see immediately in front of their noses. Some vertical vision may also have been sacrificed in order to have a wider field of vision. For example, they probably wouldn't be able to see a predator in a tree.
COLORS
Contrary to previous thought, sheep and other livestock see colors, though their color vision is not as well developed as it is in humans. Sheep will react in fear to new colors.
EARS
Sheep have excellent hearing. They can direct their ears to the direction of the sound. Sound arrives at each ear at slightly different times, with a small difference in amplitude. Sheep are frightened by high pitched and loud noises, such as dogs barking or firecrakers.
SMELL
Sheep have an excellent sense of smell. They are very sensitive to what different predators smell like. Smell helps rams locate ewes in heat and dams locate their lambs. Sheep also use their sense of smell to locate water and determine subtle or major differences between feeds and pasture.
TASTE
The sense of taste in sheep is probably not as important as the other senses. However, sheep have the ability to differentiate different feedstuffs and taste may play a role in this behavior. When presented with a variety of feeds, sheep will select certain feeds over others. Sheep will select different types and species of plants than other livestock.
TOUCH
Since the sheep's body is covered with wool or coarse hair, only the nose, lips, mouth, and maybe ears readily lend themselves to touching behavior. Touching is important to the interaction between sheep. Lambs seek bodily contact with their mothers and the ewes respond to the touching behavior in many ways, including milk letdown in response to nuzzling/suckling stimulus of lambs. When young lambs sleep, they will seek out their mothers and lie close to them.
Click HERE to learn how a sheep's natural instinct helps to protect it from predators.
. . . New Words . .
Amplitude - the strength or volume of a sound.
Depth of perception - three-dimensional perception that is essential for the ability of an individual to judge quickly and accurately the speed and distance relationships between an object and the individual.
Peripheral vision - the seeing of objects displaced from the primary line of site and outside of the central visual field. Also called side vision.
Beauty Adorns the Ram With Horns
Horned vs. Polled
While originally all rams had horns, sheep can have horns or not, depending upon their breed, sex, and genetics. Some sheep breeds have horns on both rams and ewes. Some have horns on only the rams. Rams have larger and more striking horns than ewes. When neither sex has horns, the breed is said to be "polled" or naturally hornless. Some sheep breeds have both horned and polled strains. Partial or underdeveloped horns are called "scurs." While horns are oftentimes removed from cows or goats for safety and management purposes, horns are seldom removed from sheep unless they pose a danger to the animal.
HORNED Karakul Ram
POLLED Shropshire Rams
Photo Courtesy of UK Shropshire
Sheep Breeders' Association
Beautiful Horns!
A sheep's horns are hollow, consisting of a keratinous sheath overlying a bony core that is attached to the skull. Horns will grow throughout the sheep's lifetime, with the most rapid growth occuring during the first two to three years. Sheep horns tend to curl and spiral, whereas goat horns grow straight out or up. Some rams have such beautiful horns that they are raised as "trophy" animals. Horns can be made into knife handles, spoons, hair combs, powder horns, and horse bits.
Awassi Rams
Kazakhstan Damara Ram
Photo courtesy of
Dawie Du Toit Damara Stud Icelandic Ram
Photo courtesy of
Lavender Fleece
Rare genetics allow some sheep to have four horns (or more)!
Jacob Ram
Navajo Churro Ram
Photo courtesy of
Bid A Wee Farm
On Commercial Sheep Farms
Horns are useful to wild sheep, but don't serve much of a useful purpose on sheep in commerical production situations. Horns can make handling sheep, especially rams, more difficult, dangerous, and more time consuming. Horned animals can get their heads stuck in fences, feeders, and equipment. As a result, selection has been for polled animals over the years.
Scottish Blackface Ram
Rambouillet x Merino ram
. . New Words . .
Horns - a hard, pointed, often curved part that grows from the top of the head of some animals. Consists of an inner, boney core covered by an outer sheath that is much like our fingernails. Horns are not shed annually as are antlers.
Polled - without horns, naturally hornless.
Scurs - any horny growth which is not attached to the skull.
Ouch!
Romney and Lincoln Rams
Head butting is both a natural and learned behavior in sheep. Contestive head butting is a carry over from when sheep ran wild and from those who still do. Since only the dominant rams get to breed the ewes, rams must fight to determine this privilege.
3/4 White Dorper Ram
Classic head butting among rams is highest during the rutting season which preceeds the onset of heat in ewes. It is a way for rams to get into physical shape for the breeding season and to establish (or re-establish) the dominance hierarchy.
Romney Ewes
Sheep are the classical social "flocking animal." They work out a social order by head butting, poking with horns, shoulder pushing, blocking, and mounting. This is seen most clearly in rams who back off, then charge, meeting head to head with a large bang.
Dorset Rams
To discourage butting, you should avoid petting or scratching a ram on the forehead. The ram may see this as a challenge or aggressive behavior. This is because the ram sees you as part of the flock and he wants to dominate you.
3/4 White Dorper Ram
No matter how friendly a ram is, he should never be trusted. You should never turn your back on a ram. Rams can cause serious injury to people and other animals.
. . . New Words . . .
Rutting - condition or period of mammalian sexual activity.
Dominance - the higher status position when social rank is organized according to a dominance-submission hierarchy.
Hierarchy - a group arranged according to rank or authority.
Heat - readiness for sexual activity.
1
Applied Sheep Behavior
Introduction, The Basics and Sheep Senses Sheep have evolved a unique and fascinating array of behavioral characteristics which have contributed to their survival and proliferation in a unique environmental niche. The
successful sheep producer learns to understand sheep behavior, and applies this knowledge to
practically all facets of flock management. The scientific study of animal behavior is called ethology. This publication will cover many aspects of sheep ethology from mating behavior to behavior at lambing time and feeding
behavior. This will not be an exhaustive review of sheep ethology because such a project would
require at least a couple of large books. Instead, we will focus on particular sheep behavioral
characteristics that have management implications for sheep producers in the farm and youth
club flocks.
The Basics of Sheep Behavior In recent years, ethologists have generated a considerable body of literature related to sheep behavior. The following review of research shows that the work which has been done
provides evidence for existing sheep management recommendations. There is also, however,
behavioral information that may challenge sheep producers to examine their management
practices in a different light. Before discussing the various components of applied sheep behavioral research, some basics should be covered. This includes a few definitions and a brief overview of sheep senses
because these are the tools which sheep use to interact with their environment. The senses are
also the essence of what makes sheep behaviorally distinct in the animal kingdom. Behavior can be defined as the animal's response to its environment. Domestic sheep exist in a relatively controlled environment and their response to that environment is a fairly
predictable composite of innate (inherited) and acquired (learned) components. Behavior is an important part of what makes a sheep a sheep, so an important question to answer is "What is a sheep?" One of the world's foremost sheep ethologists, Dr. R. Kilgour,
defines a sheep as a "defenseless, wary, tight-flocking, visual, wool-covered ruminant (cud-
chewing animal) evolved from a desert or a mountain grassland habitat with low water needs and
displaying a 'follower-type' dam precocial offspring relationship with strong imitation between
young and old in establishing range systems; showing seasonal breeding and a separate male
sub-group structure at certain times of the year." Others have pointed out that the sheep is a
strongly social animal requiring the presence of at least 4 or 5 sheep which, when grazing,
maintain a visual link with each other. 2 Much of what makes a sheep behaviorally unique is related to being a ruminating herbivore
(plant-eating animal). For example, contrast sheep feeding behavior with carnivorous (meat-
eating) feeding patterns. Carnivores spend a much smaller proportion of their time consuming
food and a considerable amount of time stalking. Sheep normally spend more time consuming
food and ruminating (cud-chewing) and little time in searching for food. Carnivores typically
must attack and subdue their food before consuming it. Sheep merely graze. These and many
other feeding behavioral traits can be logically assumed to provide a basis for much of what
makes sheep different from carnivores. Carnivores are aggressive, sheep passive. Carnivores
are anatomically suited for killing other animals while sheep are anatomically ideal for grazing.
Carnivores kill sheep. Sheep never kill carnivores. Ethologists have considered the time spent ruminating as an indicator of the basic nature of the sheep. Ruminating can take several hours a day and requires that the animal be
comfortable and relaxed. Sudden stresses will cause rumination to abruptly cease. During
rumination, sheep and cattle often acquire a pensive, sleepy expression. The cud-chewing time
is usually spent in groups and may be accompanied by mutual and self-grooming activity. In
established flocks there is reduced aggression with little or no stressful isolation of individuals
under normal conditions. It has been speculated that rumination and accompanying behavioral
activities are an important facet of the genesis of the strong flock instinct of sheep. It is also
suggested that rumination serve as an "anti-boredom" activity.Sheep Senses Sheep and other animals share the five basic senses: vision, audition (hearing), olfaction (smell), gustation (taste), and touch. The senses are the tools that an animal uses to interact with
its environment. As such, the senses can be considered initiators and/or mediators of behavioral
response. It is difficult to evaluate sheep senses. There is a temptation to allot human sensate capabilities to sheep, but a simple evaluation of anatomy shows that sheep and people must have
certain basic differences in how they see, feel, taste, smell and hear the world. However, it would be a mistake to base judgement of sheep perceptions solely on anatomical evaluations. The problem being that our understanding of the relationship between
anatomy and actual perception is too primitive to make confident assessments. The point is that
we do not completely understand sheep senses, but the things we have learned in recent years
have added greatly to our store of sheep knowledge. And a review of this information can be
helpful in sheep management. Vision. Did you ever look a sheep eye to eye? If you have you probably noticed a few things. For one thing, they have a very large pupil, and the sheep pupil is differently shaped than
the human pupil. The sheep pupil is somewhat rectangular in shape. And the eyeball is placed
more to the side of the head, which gives them a wider field of vision. Behavioral scientists believe that the placement and structure of the sheep's eyes are due to nature's designation of sheep as a prey species. Predator species, such as dogs and coyotes,
have eyes placed toward the front of their head. This narrows their total field of vision but it
increases their binocular visual field. This gives the predators better depth perception and a more
concentrated field of vision. 3 Prey species, like sheep and cattle, have a much wider visual field. With only slight head movement, sheep can scan their entire surroundings. If there is a threat, the sheep is likely to
perceive it and the behavioral response is generally to flee. The shape of the pupil further enhances the ability of sheep to pick up movement. The rectangular shape provides a built-in wide angle lens effect which is further enhanced by the
placement of the visual receptors in the retina. The total effect is enhanced peripheral vision. It
is speculated that a certain amount of vertical vision is sacrificed, i.e., sheep may not be able to
easily observe objects that are overhead, such as a predator in a tree. A similar phenomenon is
noted in deer, hence the popularity of hunting from overhead stands by deer hunters. Does the sheep sacrifice visual acuity to obtain a wide visual field of vision? The answer to this question is not clear, but current thought is that sheep vision is relatively keen. Consider
the advantages of good close-range vision for efficiently obtaining the best selection of pasture
species. Evidence to support this is obtained by comparing the number of cones and rods in
sheep versus humans, and the difference is not substantial. What about color vision? For many years it was believed that both cattle and sheep were color blind, but apparently this is not true. Current evidence is that all common livestock have
the cones necessary for color vision. In addition, research with sheep trained to discriminate
between colors has led investigators to conclude that sheep are not color blind. It is, however,
likely that sheep's color acuity is not equal to other species, such as humans. Hearing. There is limited research information about the auditory sense of sheep. However, there is evidence that sheep are sensitive to high pitched noises. Researchers have also
documented an increased release of stress-related hormones in response to sudden loud noises
such as firecrackers or barking dogs. Sheep become nervous and difficult to handle when stress
hormones are elevated, so it may be useful to avoid loud or shrill noises when handling or
moving sheep. The sheep can amplify and pinpoint sound with its ears. Sound arrives at each ear at slightly different times with a small difference in amplitude which the auditory system can
process into a directional signal. This can be further refined by moving the ears, head or the
entire body. This skill is probably almost as important as sight and smell for keeping the sheep,
as a prey species, alive. Smell. The olfactory sense of sheep may be the most difficult for humans to comprehend. Sheep have more highly developed olfactory systems than humans and probably
incorporate olfaction more completely in their interaction with their environment. In spite of the inability of humans to understand the full scope of the sheep's sense of smell, perhaps we get a hint when an odor triggers some long-buried memory or even an
emotion. The sense of smell is linked in some mysterious way to the core of both human and
ovine sensibilities. Sheep use smell in a number of ways. One way that is often observed is when smell is used to identify other sheep, particularly when a ewe uses smell to pick out her lamb. Another common use of smell is during mating. The ram constantly moves from ewe to ewe to detect the ones in heat (estrus). The classic head-raised, lip-curling behavior of the ram
(bulls and stallions, also) as he smells estrus females is called the Flehmen response. This trait,
which may be occasionally seen in females, is due to a special organ above the roof of the mouth
which humans do not have. It is called the vomeronasal organ. 4 A well-documented ewe response to the presence of males is the onset of cycling when previously absent males are introduced into the flock. The vomeronasal organ has been
implicated as a mediator of this response, probably due to a release of androgen-derived
pheromones by the males. Sheep probably use their olfactory sense to locate water and to identify subtle or major differences between pastures and feeds. For example, sheep prefer to avoid grazing near where
other sheep have defecated. Cattle are even more persnickety than sheep in this regard. An
olfactory stimulus is probably the trigger of this behavioral response which can have a significant
effect in grazing patterns over a grazing season. Sheep will select fresh feed in preference to spoiled feed. The next time you are tempted to dispose of moldy feed or hay by feeding it to sheep, try smelling it yourself. Then remember
that, if it smells bad to you, it may smell worse to the sheep. This may not always work,
however, because some molds, such as highly poisonous aflatoxin, cannot be detected by
humans. There are also feeds, such as silage, which many people find objectionable to smell
which sheep readily accept. Taste. The sense of taste in sheep is probably not as important as the sense of smell and it is difficult to separate behavioral responses that are due to taste from responses caused by the
olfactory sense. Sheep have the ability to differentiate feedstuffs and taste may play a role in this behavior. When presented with a variety of feeds, sheep will select certain feeds over others. In
practical situations, such as under grazing conditions with multiple forage species present, the
sheep will select different types and species than goats or cattle. There have been experiments to determine if sheep have "nutritional wisdom." This is based on the premise that sheep will attempt to eat feeds that provide them with the nutrients
they require. In most cases, sheep are unlikely to balance their own ration when provided a
variety of feeds. If possible, they will consume feeds at a level far higher than necessary to
provide essential nutrients. Salt is a good example. Salt is provided to meet the requirement for sodium but sheep will often consume many times the amount of salt needed to meet the requirement. Luckily,
there is no evidence that over consumption of salt will cause health problems if there is adequate
water available. Touch. Most of the sheep's body is covered with wool or coarse hair. The hooves are certainly not designed for maximum tactile stimulation. Only the nose, lips, mouth and maybe
the ears readily lend themselves to feeling behavior. This certainly does not mean that the skin
under the wool has no sensitivity. In fact, it is probably extremely sensitive, but protected.
Similarly, the hoof pad is probably also sensitive, as anyone who has trimmed hooves can relate
to. The sense of touch is undoubtedly important in interaction between animals. Lambs seek bodily contact with their dams and ewes probably respond to the touching behavior in various
ways, including milk let-down in response to the nuzzling/suckling stimulus of lambs. A practical touch situation is related to electric fences. Anyone who has used electric fences with a variety of grazing animal species knows that sheep are the least sensitive to
electricity. This is probably due to the insulating property of the wool. To use electric fences
with sheep, multiple hot wires should be placed with one being approximately at nose height. 5 High-quality, well-grounded chargers should be used, and sheep should be trained to the fence
by introducing them to a well-constructed permanent electric fence for their first experience.
Extension agents or fence companies can supply plans for electric fences that not only effectively
confine sheep, but also deter predators.
The Domestication of Sheep Sheep and humans have been closely associated for a long time. Studies have shown that sheep were probably the second or third species to be domesticated. Man's "best friend," the
dog, was the first species to be domesticated, with sheep and goats approximately tied for second
in the domestication race. It is difficult to know exactly when domestication occurred, but domesticated sheep remains have been dated some 9000 years ago in Iraq. Some experts suspect that sheep
domestication may have been fairly advanced as long as twelve to fifteen thousand years ago. Assessing behavioral modifications that occurred during domestication is difficult because the evidence is slim. Skeletal remains can be tracked and even fleece changes can be
charted, but behavioral changes are more elusive. Even so, certain important inferences can be
drawn than can assist the modern sheep producer in understanding the behavior of these
fascinating, docile animals.
The basics of Domestication "Domestication" is defined in Webster's Dictionary (2nd Edition, 1976) as "to cause (animals and plants) to be no longer wild..." Scientists who study domestication are careful to
differentiate domestication from taming. One expert 8. A. Reed) sums up this difference by
stating: "Although taming was or is necessarily a pathway toward domestication, a tamed animal
is not a domestic one." Sheep, with few exceptions, are a thoroughly domesticated species. The sheep that we work with each day are descended through thousands of generations of human contact. In all
probability, domestic sheep would not survive for long in most "wild" situations; certainly the
sheep would be quickly destroyed if significant predator pressure were present. Sheep are an almost perfect example of the symbiosis (mutual benefit) that is necessary for domestication. Sheep contribute wool, meat and milk in return for protection, shelter, feed
and health management. Interestingly, the sheep also have a profound symbiotic relationship
with the gut micro-organisms that digest the fibrous material (grass and hay) that makes these
animals economically efficient human partners. More simply, sheep convert forages that humans
cannot use into valuable products that we can use, and it is the gut microbes that allow them to
do this. Considering the numerous other factors, such a soil fertility, forage combinations, grain
supplementation, climate, etc., it becomes clear that domestication is a complicated story about
the development of complex, elegant relationship. Experts have proposed the following stages in the process of domestication of sheep:
!Loose ties of animals with man, but no control of breeding;
!Confinement and breeding in captivity, with separation from wild sheep allowing a
distinct domestic race to develop;
!Selective breeding by man for certain features with occasional mating to wild forms;
and, 6 !The gradual intensification of the development of different breeds with desirable
economic characteristics.
These steps occurred over thousands of years with the bond between man and sheep being gradually strengthened with each generation. A closer examination of certain aspects of
the domestication process may help sheep producers understand their animals better.
Early Domestication Much of what we understand about the earliest history of domestication is speculation based on studies of early man as a hunter-gatherer and sheep as a prey species. Sheep must have been an attractive quarry for early human hunters. Although pre-domesticated sheep were undoubtedly nimble and swift, and difficult to trap, they must have
been relatively simple for a skilled hunter to subdue after the sheep was cornered. The reward to
the hunter was enough meat to feed several people in a package that was small enough to be
conveniently carried home. After the family was fed, there was leather for clothing and shelter,
bladder for liquid storage and bones for tools and other uses. The most commonly offered scenario about the beginnings of the domestication process begins when a very young lamb is orphaned and adopted by humans. This process will be
understood by anyone who has raised an orphan lamb or calf. The lamb bonds with humans and
the younger the lamb, the more complete the bond. Modern behaviorists have proven that, if the
process begins within a few hours of birth, the attachment is especially strong and called
"imprinting." An orphan lamb which "imprints" to a human will have a bond with that person as
powerful as the attachment between a lamb and its dam. It will attempt to follow the person,
sleep near her and seek protection from the person if a threat is perceived. Most speculation begins when the fatherhunter kills a wild ewe with newborn lambs. The hunter takes the lamb(s) home and gives them to his children who raise them as pets. Some
behaviorists speculate that very young orphan lambs could have survived only if they obtained
milk from source. Previously tamed goat dams might fit this theory but, according to one theory,
the most logical source of milk was a woman who would suckle the orphan lamb with her own
children. Whatever the exact genesis of domestication, the sheep apparently adapted to the process remarkably well. At least part of the reason for the success of the domestication of sheep must
lie in the strong "flocking instinct" of sheep. The "flocking instinct" is scientific shorthand for
explaining that sheep are social animals. Humans are also social animals and both sheep and
humans have the capacity to expand their social group to include members of other species. For example, it is typical in many parts of the world to see humans, dogs and sheep working together as an economic-social entity. Humans, in effect, serve as the catalyst to meld
themselves with pack-forming animals (dogs) and flock-forming animals (sheep) into an
extended, interdependent pack/flock. As Alice said of Wonderland, "Curiouser and curiouser!"
Advances in Domestication As the millennia passed, the relationship between sheep and humans passed beyond "tamed companion" to "domestic partnership."
This was a symbiotic relationship, i.e., both species benefitted, or it would probably not have
proceeded as well as it did. One of the key elements in the advancement of the relationship must have been actions by humans that changed the breeding pattern. Charles Darwin was the great teacher who most 7 clearly explained the difference between "natural selection" in which man's role was no more
than another competing species and "methodical selection" in which man actively applied
selection pressure to achieve desired genetic results. An early possible behavior-related example of Darwin's methodical selection may have been the elimination of aggressive animals before breeding age which would result in selection
pressure in favor of gentle, more submissive, animals in the breeding flock. This could be done
by killing the aggressive animals or, in the case of rams, they may have been castrated. It is
unknown when it was discovered that castration causes desirable changes in behavior, but there
is evidence that it was practiced as early as the Neolithic period. Perhaps castration was first
done to improve behavior, then continued as the most effective available method for selective
breeding. As domestication advanced, the sheep were changed. The physical changes in body structure and wool have been documented, but behavioral changes are not as clear. According to
M. L. Ryder, "Modification of behavior was important in the adaptation of wild sheep to the new
environment, and this ability to change behavior may have made sheep amenable to
domestication." There are no other common livestock species, except dairy animals, which demand as much physical contact with their keeper. Beef cows, for example, may only be worked once or
twice per year, and it may take only a few moments to administer management procedures.
Sheep may be worked as many as six times a year. Cows typically calve and raise the calf with
little direct participation by humans. Lambs will more commonly be born in confinement with
considerable direct contact. Cows rarely need shearing. Sheep require considerable direct
contact during shearing time. (Horses, of course, may have more direct contact with humans, but
it is not a requirement for survival in most modern situations, and is more likely to be used for
recreational activities than as a source of necessary work.) The extreme level of animal/man contact required for successful sheep raising is probably one reason for the remarkable docility of sheep. If you are in the sheep business, ask
yourself how long you would keep a sheep that was aggressive, independent and had the ability
of creatively think of ways to escape. Probably not long and Neolithic shepherds were probably
no different. Therefore, as domestication advanced, sheep became more docile. The docility of sheep is not without problems. These gentle animals are, unfortunately, easy prey to free-ranging dogs, coyotes and other predators. The avoidance of predator loss is
yet another reason why sheep producers will typically have more contact with their animals than
managers of beef cattle. The practice of "methodical selection" by shepherds during the process of domestication led inevitably to the development of breeds. The origin and development of the various breeds
of sheep is a huge and interesting topic, but beyond the scope of the series, except as related to
behavior. There is considerable variability in behavioral traits between breed. For example,
certain breeds tend to be more gregarious, i.e., they "flock" better. The Rambouillet, for
example, is known as a breed with a strong tendency to "flock." Other breeds, notably the
Blackbelly Barbados, are known for being "flighty."
Modern Behavioral Implications Over a century ago, Charles Darwin offered an excellent explanation for the human tendency to select toward extremes in animal breeding. He stated: 8 "...in the process of selection man almost invariably wishes to go to an extreme point."
We have seen modern parallels to the tendencies that Darwin observed. Extremely tall "show-ring sheep" are an example. Behavioral extremes, such as nervous attitude (flightiness),
aggressiveness, weak mothering ability or low libido are behavioral traits that should generally
be avoided in sheep and which may, to some degree, be affected by the selection process. Mothering ability is an interesting example of a behavioral trait which has many facets and implications. the importance of mothering ability varies widely according to management
conditions. In farm flocks, the birth process often closely monitored and human assistance is
readily available. Twins and triplets are desired and common. Under range conditions, the dam
may have to fend for herself. Twins and certainly triplets are not preferred. Mothering ability is
probably more important in the range flock, but if the farm flock managers place little or no
importance on mothering ability they may develop sheep that are more difficult to manage
during the lambing period. Sheep generally present few behavioral problems. In fact, sheep are so gentle that they are routinely recommended as "starter" animals to introduce boys and girls to 4-H and FFA
livestock projects. Thousands of young people show sheep each year with almost zero
probability that they will be injured by an aggressive animal. Sheep are easily trained to lead
with or without a halter and are cooperative with even inexperienced youth. They is probably
the most readily observed "proof" of the high degree to which the sheep has been behaviorally
domesticated.
Mating Behavior One of the most important factors in determining the success of a sheep operation is the rate of reproduction. Reproductive efficiency is influenced by a number of variables, including
environment, nutrition and genetics. Behavior is also an important aspect of reproduction, and
an understanding of the basics of reproductive behavior can lead to management applications
that can improve reproductive success.
Puberty Puberty is the attainment of sexual maturity. In sheep, this can be as early as 6 months but it more commonly occurs at 7 to 12 months. Behaviorists have noted that both ram and ewe
lambs may perform mating activity before the reproductive tract is physiologically mature.
Therefore, pregnancy does not occur. Conversely, some ewe lambs may cycle, but not exhibit
estrus. A common goal of the flock manager is to breed ewe lambs to lamb as yearlings. This requires that they be bred when they are approximately 7 to 9 months old. Research has shown
that ewe lambs which are bred during their first year will be more productive over their lifetime. Ewe lambs will not normally cycle as many times as
mature ewes, and will often start cycling later in the season. These facts may contribute to the difficulties that many sheep
producers report when trying to breed ewe lambs.
Seasonal Breeding Behavior Sheep exhibit seasonal breeding patterns. In general, they are referred to as being seasonally anestrus (non-cycling) or short-light breeders. This means that they are more likely to
breed in the fall, when day length is shorter and temperatures are cooler. 9 The onset of the breeding season is controlled by the pineal gland which is located in the brain. This gland secretes a hormone, called melatonin, which acts on the hypothalamus to
initiate the breeding cycle. The stimulus for the secretion of melatonin is shorter photoperiod, or
shorter day length. Interestingly, the further away from the equator that a sheep breed originated, the more likely they will exhibit seasonal breeding patterns. Conversely, sheep developed in the tropics or
subtropical regions are likely to exhibit estrus behavior throughout the year. Successful attempts to alter breeding cycles have been conducted. One method for accomplishing this is to house sheep in environments in which the length of the light/dark
periods can be artificially controlled. Most researchers who have reported success in using this
method have stressed the need for absolute darkness during the simulated night portions of the
period. The light/dark hours most commonly mentioned in the literature is 8 hours of light and
16 hours of darkness. This effect has been enhanced by the administration of certain hormones. Another approach has been to use a synthetic form of melatonin. This method has proven successful in other countries, but has not been approved for use in the United States. The onset of cycling behavior in ewes may be stimulated by the introduction of a ram. Various researchers have demonstrated that a high proportion of ewes will come into heat
(estrus) within a few days after a ram is introduced. This effect is more pronounced if the rams
and ewes have been completely separated during the non-breeding period. This phenomenon
tends to result in a synchronized breeding period, with multiple ewes exhibiting estrus behavior
at the same time. Seasonal breeding behavior is generally regarded as being more in the realm of the ewe, but rams are also affected. Researchers have reported decreased levels of testosterone
production and decreased testicular size in rams during the off-season. The off-season for
breeding in the farm flock states, including Tennessee, is generally regarded as the late spring
and summer months.
Courtship and Mating Ewes will cycle several times during the breeding season if they are not bred or if they fail to become pregnant. The reproductive cycle of the ewe is about 16 days (range = 14 to 20
days). The actual period of estrus when the ewe is sexually receptive to the ram is about 30 to 36
hours. Ewes in heat may actively seek out and attempt to stay in the vicinity of the rams. There may be little other sign of estrus early in the heat period, but as the heat period progresses, the
ewe may become more active in her courtship behavior. During the peak of estrus the ewe may
sniff, lick or nuzzle the ram. The estrus ewe is likely to urinate frequently, particularly if the ram is investigating. A ewe may exhibit the urination response to the ram whether she is in heat or not, but if she is not
in heat, she will usually leave the vicinity of the ram. If she is in heat she may passively accept
the attention of the ram, occasionally turning her head to observe the ram's activities. Sometimes
the ewe fans or wriggles her tail. The classic behavioral response of the ram when it detects an estrus ewe is to lift its nose into air and curl its upper lip. This is called the Flehmen response. The Flehmen response is
generally exhibited after smelling freshly excreted urine. Although the Flehmen response is
visually graphic, it is not considered to be a means of sexual communication. Instead, the 10 primary purpose of Flehmen is generally regarded to expose the vomeronasal organ. This organ
is in the nasal cavity and is connected to the roof of the mouth. Its purpose is to detect the
pheromones (sexual odor compounds) in the urine. Rams exhibit certain additional stereotypical display patterns. There will often be impatient appearing foot-stomping behavior. The ram may lick the ewe's genitalia and will
frequently nudge the ewe. There may be some grunting vocalization. The ram may fail in several initial attempts to mount the ewe. Teasing behavior has been reported to last about 3 hours in one study. When the tip of the penis achieve contact with the
vulval mucosa, insertion and ejaculation quickly follow. The breeding may be repeated a
number of times. The volume of each ejaculate is comparatively small (one milliliter or less)
which may partially account for the ram's ability to repeatedly mount and ejaculate within a
relatively short period. If more than one ewe is in heat at once, competition for the ram may occur and ewes may be seen to mill around the ram. Rams may repeatedly mount one ewe, but will exhibit apparent exhaustion after about 3 to 6 mountings. The ram may exhibit rapid recovery if a new estrus ewe is introduced. One
study noted that a ram mated three times as much when placed with 4 estrus ewes than when
placed with one ewe in heat. Rams will tend to select older ewes over ewe lambs. Rams have also been reported to select ewes of their own breed over ewes of another breed.
Dominance Effects If multiple rams are used in a breeding flock, it is likely that a dominance hierarchy will develop. In some situations, this may have serious management implications. For example, the
dominant ram may be genetically inferior, in which case the lambs which result would be likely
to be of inferior quality. Another potentially serious problem that may occur is when the
dominant ram is infertile or sub-fertile. The could easily cause a drastic decrease in lambing
percentage.
mature rams will almost always dominate over yearling rams. All other things being equal, larger rams will tend to dominate smaller rams. Sometimes smaller rams are more
aggressive, however, and may breed more ewes. Rams will normally display agonistic (fighting) behavior when introduced into the ewe flock. In some cases this can result in injury or exhaustion. Rams will tend to fight longer if
they are evenly matched. Fewer problems may occur when three rams are used instead of two. It has been observed that subordinate rams may exhibit considerable sniffing/Flehmen activity with ewes in early estrus while giving way to dominant males for mating during peak
estrus.
Libido Libido is the term which is used to denote sexual drive or the degree of sexual urge of animals. A ram with a high libido will exhibit an eagerness to mount and attempt to breed a ewe.
Some might characterize a ram with high libido as a "worker," or a ram that "goes about his
business." Rams exhibit a wide range of libido levels, from zero activity to the extremely aggressive ram that sacrifices all other pursuits in favor of searching for and breeding estrus females. Either 11 extreme may cause problems, and ram lambs are more likely to exhibit extremely low or high
libido. A number of tests have been developed to measure the libido levels of rams. These have included measurements of reaction time when introduced to estrus females and ratios of
successful mountings to attempted mountings. Probably the most useful are serving capacity
tests where ram performance is assessed in a number of categories over a period of 2 weeks or
more. At present, there is no reliable, widely used test of ram libido. Producers can assess the practical libido of a ram by placing a marking harness on the ram(s) so that a colored spot is left
on the ewe's rump after breeding. By keeping a record of breeding activity, an assessment of the
ram's breeding activity can be made. In addition, this type of record can provide a means for
monitoring the degree of success or failure of the ram's breeding efforts and allows prediction of
lambing dates.
Unusual Mating Behavior Most of the preceding has been devoted to the "typical" or "average" sexual behavior. There are a number of situations which are not typical, however, and some of these have
important management implications. Probably the most commonly noted example is failure to breed by a young ram. Rams are often raised in monosexual groups. Sometimes they are isolated and raised alone. Either of
these situations is likely to result in a certain percentage (estimates range from 20 to 60 percent)
that will experience initial difficulty with mating. One study found the 17 percent had not mated
after 9 days of exposure to estrus ewes. One study noted that rams raised in isolation were more
successful in initial matings than rams raised in single-sex groups. It has been postulated that
rams reared together have to "unlearn" the response that was experienced in sexual/fighting
situations with other males. Then the correct response to the female could be expressed. Rams
reared alone also have difficulty, but maybe not as much as rams raised in groups because the
rams reared alone did not have to "unlearn" behavioral patterns. Homosexual behavior has been reported in sheep but is usually noted in groups of males grouped together, as in the previous paragraph. Homosexual behavior has been implicated as a
causative factor of reduced ram libido in flock situations. The cause of reduced libido is
probably less important than recognizing that a problem exists and taking appropriate action,
which usually means replacing the ram.
Behavior at Lambing Time This is the third in a series of articles about sheep ethology (behavior). In this segment, the behavior of sheep at lambing time will be addressed. Behavioral traits associated with the birth process (parturition) are deeply rooted in the ancient development of animals. The basic assumption is that animals have evolved behavioral
strategies that insure their survival to the greatest possible degree. During the birth process, both
the dam and her offspring are in a weakened state, and are susceptible to attack by predators. It
is, therefore, important that steps be taken to minimize the susceptibility. In general, these steps
may include location of safe sites for the birthing process, quickening the process, protecting the
process, minimizing evidence of the process and achieving rapid recovery. A recent survey showed that 9.2 percent of lambs born in Tennessee do not live to weaning time. This is in agreement with other surveys which show typical losses ranging from 5 12 to 15 percent. Most of these losses occur during or shortly after parturition (birth). Many of the
causes of young lamb death are related to behavior. Researchers have studied many aspects of sheep behavior before, during and after parturition. The serious student of sheep ethology, for example, can find studies that detail
behavioral traits of the fetus. For the purposes of assisting the shepherd by explaining applied
behavioral tendencies or traits, there are four basic areas which will be considered in this paper.
These include the behavior of the pre-parturient ewe, the behavior of the ewe at lambing time,
ewe behavior after lambing and behavior of the lamb after lambing.
The Behavior of the Pre-Parturient Ewe Any shepherd who wishes to succeed in managing a reproductive flock should learn to recognize the behavioral patterns that are characteristic of the ewe which is about to give birth. The first sign that is usually seen is the tendency for the ewe to separate from the rest of the flock, but this behavior is not always seen. Researchers who have studied pre-parturient
separation have reported widely differing results. Studies on wild Bighorn Sheep showed that
they all seek isolation, while another study with Merinos found that 90 percent lamb wherever
they happen to be. Another study with Merinos and British breed ewes found that two-thirds of
the ewes were isolated from the flock, and that most of these actively sought isolation. Ewes
lambing in pens or barns will often seek a corner. Other ewes will often follow the ewe as she
seeks isolation. Shelter seeking behavior before lambing, like isolation behavior, has not always been observed. The advantage of shelter seeking is to improve the birthing environment, particularly
during harsh weather. Studies in Australia, with Merino ewes, showed little tendency by the
ewes to seek shelter, even in cold weather. Studies with Welsh Mountain ewes and Laucaune
ewes showed that cold, windy conditions increased the probability that ewes would seek shelter
during lambing. Studies have shown that shorn ewes are more likely to seek shelter at lambing time than ewes in full fleece. This finding has led to adaptation of the practice of shearing ewes about 6 to
8 weeks before parturition, particularly in the farm flock regions of the United States where
medium wool breeds predominate. It has been observed that ewes under this type of
management are more likely to lamb inside and are more attentive dams. There is also a
significant reduction in space requirements. The disadvantages of twice-a-year shearing include
additional labor requirements and a decrease in wool length, which decreases fleece value.
Ewe Behavior at Lambing Time Ewes may lamb at any time of the day or night, but various studies have indicated that lambing may become concentrated at certain times. One study noted two peak lambing times
from 9:00 am to noon and between 3:00 pm and 6:00 pm. Another study linked lambing time to
feeding time, showing that an early evening feeding tended to increase night-time lambings
which is inconsistent with what has been generally noted in cattle. As lambing time draws near, the ewes may become more restless. Such expressions as pawing or stamping, vocalization and circling are common at 60 to 90 minutes. Feed
consumption and cud-chewing will normally cease. The restless period will usually be shorter
for older ewes. Some ewes (21.0 percent in one study) may show increased interest in other
lambs in the flock during this period, including cleaning behavior and occasional attempts to
"steal" the lambs. 13 Labor is usually short in sheep, often less than an hour from the first protrusion of the vulva. First lamb ewes are more likely to have labor that extends over an hour, and older ewes
may be in labor only one-half an hour. If labor continues for over an hour with
mature ewes or
two hours with first-lamb ewes, assistance is often appropriate. Ewes are often interested in the amniotic fluid that drips from their vagina onto the ground. They will repeatedly sniff and lick the area that is contaminated with this fluid. It has
been postulated that this behavior serves as a means to keep the ewe near her "nest" site during
the birth of her lamb(s). One report noted that the ewe's attraction to the "nest" area may be
strong enough to keep her near it despite the removal of a lamb. This has practical implications
if the ewe fails to provide adequate "mothering" merely because the lamb accidently wanders
away. This is not considered to be a major difficulty. The ewe usually lies down during the latter stages of labor, but may stand during the actual birth.
Ewe Behavior After Lambing If there has been a normal birth, ewes will stand during or shortly after the birth of the lamb and begin to nuzzle and lick. This period, referred to as the "critical period" by
behaviorists, is an important time for establishing the maternal/offspring bond. The
licking/cleaning behavior, which usually starts at the head, serves to stimulate the lamb while
also drying it. The cleaning is probably also part of the initial bonding process, and is typically
accompanied by low-pitched, gurgling vocalizations. Experiments have shown that lambs learn
to recognize the characteristic voice of its dam. The ewe is normally attracted to her newborn offspring, but researchers are not certain of the exact nature of the attraction. It has been noted that post-parturient ewes are strongly
attracted to the fluids associated with the birth process. For example, researchers found that
ewes are even attracted to a rag, if the rag is soaked in placental fluid. It is also well-recognized
that it is normal for the ewe to consume the birth membranes (but not the actual placenta,
usually) during the cle
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