Abstract
Abstract. The effects of time after birth and of twinning on rectal temperature (RT), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR) and body weight (BW) values were evaluated in five singleton Comisana lambs (three males and two females), five singleton Maltese Kids (three males and two females), four couples of twin Comisana lambs (four males and four females) and four couples of twin Maltese kids (four males and four females) during the first month of life. For all kids and lambs, RT, HR, RR and BW were recorded after 1 and 24 h from birth and every 2 days until the 30th day of life. The application of two-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed a statistically significant effect of time (P < 0.0001) on RT, HR, RR and BW values in all lambs and kids during the first month of life. Any significant effect of twinning (P > 0.05) on all studied parameters was found in lambs, whereas statistically significant differences in BW, RT and HR values (P < 0.01) were found between twin and singleton kids throughout the first month of life. The results obtained in this study make a contribution to the knowledge of homeostatic, cardiorespiratory and thermoregulatory adaptations occurring in singleton lambs and kids and in twin lambs and kids during the first 30 days of life. Our findings indicate that the BW, RT, HR and RR values, whose homeostasis is still evolving in newborn, should be interpreted dynamically as a function of the period of postnatal adaptation and also of twinning.
Highlights
The management of newborn livestock species from birth until weaning has an impact on herd productivity, and the economic return will depend on the survival of the offspring
Because of the importance of deepening the knowledge on adaptation processes occurring during the postnatal period in order to improve management techniques and to prevent postnatal diseases or death, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of time after birth and of twinning on rectal temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate and body weight in lambs and kids during the first month of life
The application of two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed a statistically significant effect of time (P < 0.0001) on body weight (BW), rectal temperature (RT), heart rate (HR) and respiratory rate (RR) values measured in both singleton and twin lambs and in both singleton and twin kids during the first month of life
Summary
The management of newborn livestock species from birth until weaning has an impact on herd productivity, and the economic return will depend on the survival of the offspring. Studies carried out on newborn calves, lambs and kids demonstrated that the respiratory, cardiovascular and thermoregulatory function of these livestock species is subjected to several adjustments following the transition from the controlled uterine environment to the free-living state (Nowak and Poindron, 2006; Al-Tamimi, 2007; Ocak et al, 2009; Piccione et al, 2010, 2013; Davey et al, 1998) These physiological functions are influenced by the birth weight of the animal (De Matteo et al, 2008; Chniter et al, 2013), which in turn depends on fetal physiological adaptations made in response to the intrauterine conditions
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