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Spatial distance and reactivity traits alter the positive perception of brushing by ewes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 June 2019

P. R. Tamioso Open the ORCID record for P. R. Tamioso [Opens in a new window] ,
A. Boissy ,
X. Boivin ,
H. Chandèze ,
S. Andanson ,
É. Delval ,
C. A. Taconeli ,
D. Hazard  and
C. F. M. Molento
P. R. Tamioso
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Animal Welfare Laboratory, Federal University of Paraná, Setor de Ciências Agrárias, Rua dos Funcionários, 1540, Cabral, 80035-060, Curitiba-Parana, Brazil
A. Boissy
Affiliation:
UMR1213 Herbivores, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique – INRA Theix, F-63122, Saint-Genès Champanelle, France
X. Boivin
Affiliation:
UMR1213 Herbivores, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique – INRA Theix, F-63122, Saint-Genès Champanelle, France
H. Chandèze
Affiliation:
UMR1213 Herbivores, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique – INRA Theix, F-63122, Saint-Genès Champanelle, France
S. Andanson
Affiliation:
UMR1213 Herbivores, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique – INRA Theix, F-63122, Saint-Genès Champanelle, France
É. Delval
Affiliation:
UMR1213 Herbivores, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique – INRA Theix, F-63122, Saint-Genès Champanelle, France
C. A. Taconeli
Affiliation:
Department of Statistics, Federal University of Paraná, Centro Politécnico, Avenida Coronel Francisco Heráclito dos Santos, 100, Jardim das Américas, 81530-000, Curitiba-Parana, Brazil
D. Hazard
Affiliation:
UMR1388 GenPhySE, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique-INRA, 24 Chemin de Borde Rouge – Auzeville, F-31326, Castanet-Tolosan Cedex, France
C. F. M. Molento*
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Animal Welfare Laboratory, Federal University of Paraná, Setor de Ciências Agrárias, Rua dos Funcionários, 1540, Cabral, 80035-060, Curitiba-Parana, Brazil
*
†E-mail: carlamolento@ufpr.br
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Abstract

Gentle handling seems to elicit positive states in sheep. The study investigated whether spatial distance alters sheep responses to brushing and whether spatial distance is influenced by reactivity. Twenty Romane ewes were assessed in three sessions: in Sessions 1 and 3, one grid separated the test animal from pen mates, with no distance between them, and in Session 2 two grids separated the test animal from pen mates by a distance of about 1.7 m. Ewes had been genetically selected for low (R−) or high (R+) behavioural reactivity to social isolation. Body postures, head orientation, ear postures, closed and half-closed eyes, tail wagging and feeding behaviour, in addition to heart rate (HR) and HR variability, as the root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD), standard deviation of all normal-to-normal (NN) intervals (SDNN), RMSSD/SDNN ratio and ratio between low-frequency (LF) and high-frequency (HF) powers (LF/HF) were assessed. Data were analysed using generalized linear models and linear mixed models. Session, genetic line and phase (pre-, brushing and post-brushing) were considered fixed effects. Increased distance in Session 2 might not have influenced ewes’ responses. Fewer changes in ear postures were noted in Session 3 than 1 (P<0.01), suggesting that ewes were more relaxed in Session 3. The RMSSD/SDNN ratio was higher mainly during brushing in Sessions 1 and 3 (P<0.05), indicating that ewes were more relaxed during brushing, and at no distance between pen mates. However, spatial distance influenced R− and R+ ewes’ responses; R+ ewes performed more asymmetric ear postures in Session 2 than 1 and 3 (P<0.01), and in Session 3 than 1 (P<0.01), indicating that spatial distance had a negative effect on R+ ewes. Low reactive ewes spent less time on horizontal ear postures in Session 2 than 1 and 3 (P<0.01), and R+ ewes spent more time on horizontal postures in Session 1 than 3 (P<0.01). Curiously, R− ewes spent more time eating and ruminating in Session 3 than 1 (P<0.01), and in Session 2 than 1 and 3 (P<0.01), whereas R+ ewes ate and ruminated more in Session 1 than 3 (P<0.05). Higher HR was found among R− ewes in Session 2 than 1 and 3, and in Session 3 than 1 (P<0.01). High reactive ewes showed higher HR in Session 1 than 3 (P<0.01). The findings suggest that the social context might influence sheep responses to gentle handling, and the effects depend on their reactivity traits.

Keywords

autonomic nervous systembehaviouremotional reactivitypositive handlingsheep
Type
Research Article
Information
animal , Volume 14 , Issue 1 , January 2020 , pp. 150 - 160
Copyright
© The Animal Consortium 2019 

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