Behavioral pattern in Texel x Corriedale terminal crossbreeding: Maternal behavior score at birth, lambs’ feeding behaviors, and behavioral responses of lambs to abrupt weaning

Abstract

Texel x Corriedale (TxC) crossbreed lambs grow faster than purebred Corriedale lambs (CxC). Thus, they should develop different feeding strategies, depending less on their mother, which should influence their behavioral response at weaning. The objective of this study was to compare the maternal behavior score at early postpartum, the feeding behaviors of TxC and CxC lambs before and after weaning, and the behavioral responses at weaning. Furthermore, we determined whether the sex of the lamb had any influence on those responses in pure or crossbreed lambs. Crossbreeding had no effect on maternal behavior score, milk yield, or ewe body weight postpartum. Crossbreed lambs were heavier than CxC lambs (P < 0.004) postpartum. During the lactation period, TxC lambs ruminated more frequently than CxC lambs (P = 0.002). There was no difference between groups in the frequency in which lambs grazed or in the number of suckling events. Crossbreed lambs ruminated more frequently than CxC lambs (P = 0.0009) on the day of weaning. Although TxC lambs were never observed pacing, CxC lambs were observed pacing one day after weaning (0.2 ± 0.2%). In conclusion, crossbreed lambs were more advanced in nutritional independence from their mothers, ruminating more than CxC lambs during the lactation period. This resulted in TxC lambs growing faster than CxC lambs, allowing them to cope better with a late artificial weaning.