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Progesterone administration reduces the behavioural and physiological responses of ewes to abrupt weaning of lambs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 April 2013

A. Freitas-de-Melo ,
G. Banchero ,
M. J. Hötzel ,
J. P. Damián  and
R. Ungerfeld
A. Freitas-de-Melo*
Affiliation:
Departamento de Biología Molecular y Celular, Universidad de la República, Lasplaces 1550, Montevideo 11600, Uruguay
G. Banchero
Affiliation:
Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria, Ruta 50 km 12, La Estanzuela, Colonia 70000, Uruguay
M. J. Hötzel
Affiliation:
Laboratório de Etologia Aplicada, Departamento de Zootecnia e Desenvolvimento Rural, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Rodovia Admar Gonzaga, 1346 Florianópolis, SC 88.034-001, Brazil
J. P. Damián
Affiliation:
Departamento de Biología Molecular y Celular, Universidad de la República, Lasplaces 1550, Montevideo 11600, Uruguay
R. Ungerfeld
Affiliation:
Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Lasplaces 1550, Montevideo 11600, Uruguay
*
†E-mail: alinefreitasdemelo@hotmail.com
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Abstract

Abrupt weaning, a usual management in sheep productive systems, may provoke behavioural and physiological responses indicative of stress in ewes and lambs. Progesterone (P4) has anxiolytic and sedative effects through the union of its metabolites that contain 3α-hydroxyl group to the γ-aminobutyricacidA receptor. Our first aim was to determine whether P4 administration reduces the behavioural and physiological responses of ewes to abrupt weaning of lambs. A complementary aim was to determine whether P4 treatment affects the milk yield and composition of ewes, and the BW of their lambs. In experiment 1, seven ewes received P4 treatment for 32 days (group E1-P4), and eight ewes remained as an untreated control group (group E1-C). BW of the lambs was recorded during P4 treatment. Lambs were weaned at 59 days (Day 0 = weaning). The main behaviours of the ewes before and after weaning were recorded using 10 min scan sampling. The ewes’ serum total protein, albumin and globulin concentrations were measured before and after weaning of the lambs. In experiment 2, milk yield and composition were determined in two different groups of six ewes treated with P4 (group E2-P4) for 16 days and in five untreated controls (group E2-C). The BW of lambs increased with time (P = 0.001) in both groups and did not differ. The percentage of observations in which the ewes were seen pacing on Day 0 was greater in the E1-C group than in the E1-P4 group (P = 0.0007). Similarly, the percentage of observations in which the ewes were recorded vocalizing on Day 0 was greater in the E1-C group than in the E1-P4 group (P = 0.04). The percentage of observations in which E1-C ewes were recorded lying did not change from Days 0 to 1; however, it increased in E1-P4 ewes. Total serum protein concentration did not change in E1-P4 ewes from Days 0 to 3, although a decrease was seen in E1-C ewes (P = 0.04). Serum globulin concentration was greater in E1-P4 ewes on Day 3 than in E1-C ewes (P = 0.0008). In experiment 2, there were no differences between E2-P4 and E2-C ewes in terms of milk yield, protein, fat and lactose content. Progesterone administration reduced the behavioural and physiological responses of ewes to abrupt weaning of lambs, and this effect was not mediated by changes in milk yield and composition, or by lambs’ BW.

Keywords

sheepprogesteronestresspacingmilk yield and composition
Type
Behaviour, welfare and health
Information
animal , Volume 7 , Issue 8 , August 2013 , pp. 1367 - 1373
Copyright
Copyright © The Animal Consortium 2013 

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