The effect of repeated lamb removal on the blood leukocyte population of ewes was examined and the behavioural and endocrine responses to the stressor quantified. 12 ewes which had given birth to twins, were placed in separate pens with their lambs. After 13 days, the lambs (14-19 days old) from one...

Suffolk × Greyface lambs, 16 weeks of age, weighing 30-40 kg, were transported by road, confined on a stationary vehicle or received no treatment (controls). The effects of 24 h continuous transport or confinement were compared with those of 12 h treatment followed by 12 h lairage, 3 h lairage or 3...

In a 2×2 factorial design, 6 sheep were either transported by road for 15 h or kept in their home pens, and then either starved for 12 h with access to water or offered hay ad libitum with access to water. All groups were offered hay and water 12 h after transport. Behavioural observations and meas...

The preslaughter handling and behaviour, and subsequent bruising was observed in 40 groups of sheep in a commercial slaughterhouse. A greater percentage of bruised carcasses was found in lambs (71%) than in ewes (49%). A greater percentage of severely bruised carcasses was found in lambs from market...

The pre-slaughter handling, behaviour and blood composition of beef cattle at slaughter was studied in a commercial slaughterhouse. The main problems identified were the routine use of driving instruments and delays caused by stoppages in the slaughter line. The plasma concentration of cortisol at t...

Behavioural observations and physiological measurements were made on weaned lambs (35 kg) before, during and either after stationary confinement or transport for 12 h at 4 space allowances (0.22, 0.27, 0.31 and 0.41 m²/sheep). Two groups were not loaded (a control group with access to food anf wate...

This article describes the teaching of animal handling at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, as part of an animal husbandry course during the first two years of the veterinary curriculum. Basic methods of handling and restraint appropriate for the wide range of a...

The behaviour of 2 groups of sheep was observed when they were placed in a pen on wooden slats and/or straw bedding for 48 h. When sheep were placed in the pen and not given a choice of slats and straw, the proportion of scans spent standing and lying by one group of sheep were not affected by floor...

This paper discusses the potential for using observations of behaviour to recognise distress in sheep. The term distress is used to describe situations in which an animal is likely to be suffering, and is indicating this by overt behavioural signs. Literature on the behavioural responses of sheep to...

It is the view of many organisations that, whenever possible, it is more appropriate to slaughter animals close to their source of production and transport the carcass rather than transport sentient live animals for slaughter, when long journeys may put their welfare at risk. However, more evidence ...