Sexual and agonistic behaviour modification associated with improved welfare of rams transported on long sea voyages

Authors: Black H
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 45, Issue 3, pp 123-124, Jun 1997
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Livestock, Production animal, Ruminant, Sheep
Subject Terms: Animal welfare, Behaviour, Biosecurity, Import/export/trade, Transport
Article class: Correspondence

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Abstract: Reviews of voyage reports and the National Live Sheep Exports Database show that rams are the class of sheep with the poorest welfare and mortality records, after lambs, in the live sheep export trade from New Zealand to the Middle East. (Except for those of the Awassi breed, lambs have been suspended from the trade since 1994.) The question arises as to why rams, which are mainly surplus stud rams of large body size and in excellent condition, have a below average sea transport performance. Ram mortality has averaged 2.67% compared with the overall mortality average of 1.47%, and the average of the best class of sheep travellers, wethers at 1.08%). Non-mortality measures of animal welfare, such as social stability in pens, agonistic behaviour and behavioural responses to stressors such as heat, also compare unfavourably between…

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