Abstract
Abstract The present study was undertaken to analyze the maternal-offspring behavior during the neonatal period in St. Croix sheep and its possible effect on reproductive development. Two experiments were carried out. In experiment I, the behavior of 30 multiparous ewes and their single ram lambs was recorded from parturition until the lamb suckled for the first time. Lambs averaged 10.4 ± 1.1 minutes to stand and 13.1 ± 2.0 minutes to start suckling. In general, the perianal region was less licked than the head or trunk areas (1.5 ± 0.6 vs. 2.3 ± 0.4 and 3.2 ± 0.6 minutes; P P P > 0.05) sexual capacities. It was concluded that (1) all areas of the lamb are licked before the first suckle; (2) if licking is prevented on some area of the body, the mother will compensate by increasing the licking of the other areas; (3) the partial or total prevention of licking activity before the first suckle has no effect on the age when puberty is reached and has no effect either in the sexual behavior displayed at the age of 1 year.
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