Ewe movement and ewe-lamb contact levels in shelter are greater at higher stocking rates

Abstract

This experiment used contact loggers and GPS collars to evaluate the effect of stocking rate during lambing on ewe movement and contact levels between animals. Twin-bearing Merino ewes were placed in 0.5-ha paddocks sheltered with rows of hessian at stocking rates of 16 and 30 ewes/ha for the low and high stocking rates, respectively. The ewes did not spend more time in more sheltered areas of the paddock, and use of shelter was not influenced by stocking rate. Ewes at the high stocking rate travelled 11% farther per day but crossed through the hessian rows 37% less than ewes at the low stocking rate. Stocking rate did not change the level of contact between ewes, but higher levels of contact were shown between ewes and their lambs at the high stocking rate. The results suggest that the interaction between ewes and their lambs is modified by stocking rate and/or flock size for small groups lambing in shelter rows.