Preference in shorn sheep for different types of slatted flooring at low ambient temperatures

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the preference of ewes for different floor materials at low ambient temperatures. A total of 30 non-pregnant ewes were sheared and allocated to one of ten stable groups with three animals per group. Ten pens were constructed with two different floor materials and ewes could eat and drink through a continuous feed opening on both floor materials. Groups were habituated to all floor material combinations and systematically rotated through the ten pens. Behaviours standing/walking; resting and eating/drinking were scored from 20h video recordings using instantaneous sampling in 10min intervals. Location in the pen (section A or B) and physical contact during resting was also recorded. Sheared ewes showed clear preferences for standing/walking (F4,80=14.6, P<0.0001) and resting (F4,80=34.8; P<0.0001) on solid floor materials than on slatted floors. Sheep tended to spend a larger proportion of time resting on solid rubber than solid wood in pen 10 (Fig. 3; T=2.26; P=0.09). Between the different slatted floor materials we found no significant difference in behaviour parameters. Floor material per se and temperature category interacted significantly for the behaviour standing/walking (F16,80=2.42; P=0.005). Heat conductivity properties were very different between floor materials and the largest temperature drop was observed on solid rubber mat (8.4°C), while the smallest temperature drop was evident on a layer of straw (3.1°C). In conclusion, there are other properties than heat conductivity of the materials that influence sheared ewes’ preference for floor materials in low ambient temperatures.