Behavior of Lambs in Rest Pens During Long-Distance Transport

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine how one group of lambs utilized 2 consecutive rest periods in novel environments with access to food and water that occurred during 22 hr of motor transport. The 18.5 ± 0.6 kg lambs (n = 15) were transported for 8 hr and then unloaded for a 6-hr rest period. After 6 hr, the lambs were reloaded for another 8 hr of transport followed by a 24-hr rest period. Reloading for a second 8 hr of transport followed the initial rest period. The percentage of lambs engaged in drinking, eating, lying, playing, or “other” was determined at 15-min intervals. During the 6-hr rest period, peak lying behavior occurred during the 2nd and 6th hr of the period. During the first 6 hr of the 24-hr rest period, the percentage of lambs lying increased while the percentage of lambs eating decreased. In addition, the percentage of lambs lying during the first 6 hr of the 24-hr rest period was greater than during the 6-hr rest period. Lying down had a greater priority than eating during the second (24-hr) rest period.