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Karina Almanza

ANS 002

Section: A03

Observation of Pre-partum and Postpartum Feeding Behavior in Sheep

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Objective

The objective of this study is to observe the duration of feed intake in pregnant ewe, pre-

partum and postpartum by instantaneously observing 7 dams for 8 days, observing each

instantaneously as a group for 20-30 minutes. Based on the observations, it is hypothesized that

the ewes will consume an overall longer duration postpartum rather than pre-partum.

Introduction

Nutritional requirements are essential for growth and maintenance of any species. In

terms of ewes, changes in nutrition have been proven to increase the likelihood of a change in

structure, physiology and metabolism of the offspring, which proposes metabolic, endocrine and

cardiovascular diseases in adulthood (Guoyao et. al. 2004).

When specifically looking at undernourishment, there could be detrimental losses to the

health of the offspring and even losses of the embryo (Abecia et. al. 2006). Nutrient restriction

and over-nourishment of dam during pregnancy suppresses placental cell proliferation and

vascularity, which, in turn, endangers the health of the embryo and fetus (Redmer et. al. 2004).

Nourishment plays a vital role in lactation to provide essential nutrients needed by the young;

being undernourished negatively affects growth of mammary glands (Treacher et. al. 1970).

During pregnancy, there are also limitations on the amount of intake the ewe can partake in due

to compartmentalization restrictions; the relationship between rumen availability and uterus size

demonstrates an inverse relationship (Forbes et. al. 1969).

Due to past research and observations, the hypothesis is that ewes will exhibit a longer

duration of feed intake postpartum rather than intake duration during pre-partum. Observations
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that are being noted are intake of feed that is provided to the animals, more specifically the

action of the ewe picking up any source of feed with its mouth.

Methods and Materials

This experiment took place on site of Animal Science Teaching Facility (ASTF) on the

University of California, Davis. The ewe were provided food, maintained cleanliness and hay by

the ASTF staff and facility every morning and every night. Water was provided at all times to

each ewe. Initially before giving birth, the ewes are kept in an elongated area that included

cement and grass, and was closed off by a gate high enough to restrict escape. During the first

few days postpartum, each ewe had a confided gated area in which her and her offspring resided.

A total of 7 pregnant dams were observed for a total of 8 days, excluding the day of

parturition. Observations took place consecutively each day for a duration of 20-30 minutes

within the hours of 12-1 pm. During the 20-30 minute duration, it was instantaneously recorded

per minute as a group, whether or not the ewe is consuming food. It is carefully noted that the

ewe are picking up fresh new feed and not chewing or regurgitating previously ingested feed.

When calculating the averages for the ewe, there was a distinction between data collected

pre-partum and postpartum. Although calculations were not formulated for the day of parturition,

it acted as a barrier separating the 4 days of pre-partum and 4 days of postpartum. For each

average, data was collected for all 7 ewe and individually averaged out per day, then those

averages were joined together to find the overall average per group of days. Standard deviations

were also calculated using the overall averages of pre-partum and postpartum.
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Results

The 7 ewes were observed for 8 total days. Days of observation included 4 days pre-

partum and concluded with 4 days of postpartum. Results are drawn conclusive based on

averages calculated per pre-partum and postpartum observation as well as standard deviations,

exhibited in Table 1. These averages are further detailed in Graph 2, demonstrating the

differences in pre-partum and postpartum average duration of consumptions. Standard error bars

in Graph 2 demonstrate the variance exhibited when comparing both averages to one another.

When looking at Graph 3, there is high variability and inconsistency in the data collected,

making it difficult to justify if the duration of feed intake was longer postpartum than pre-

partum. There are no patterns that can properly justify the duration of consumption being favored

in one trial of observation over another.

When looking at the averages, there was an overall greater average duration of

consumption postpartum when compared to pre-partum amongst all 7 ewes. The average

duration of all ewes observed pre-partum, estimated 21 8.56 minutes per hour. The averaged

postpartum displayed a duration of 26 2.12 minutes per hour. While the averages exhibit a

slight difference, suggesting that there was an increased in duration of consumption during

postpartum when compared to pre-partum.

When considering the differences in the number of offspring and the length of duration of

consumption for each ewe when considering the duration for each individual offspring, there is a

challenge to see if there are similarities in duration of feed intake per offspring. Ewe 1 and 7

gave birth to one lamb, while all other ewes gave birth to two lambs. The averaged pre-partum
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duration of intake when considering each individual offspring was a total of 14 6.64 minutes

per hour, while the averaged postpartum duration of intake was 18 2.75 minutes per hour.

Discussion

When comparing the averages displayed in Table 1 and further more compared in Graph

1, it becomes evident that the averages are slightly larger for the postpartum duration of intake

than pre-partum intake. In previous studies by Forbes et al. (1968), it was investigated whether

pregnancy inhibits rumen capacity and ability to increase feed intake. What was found by Forbes

was that rumen capacity did not play a major role on limitations of food intake until the 5th week

of pregnancy, limiting the ewe from consuming regular amounts of feed intake (Forbes et. al.

1968). This could play a role in the explanation of why the 7 ewes observed at ASTF had longer

intake durations after parturition; ingesting a larger average of durations of feed intake during

postpartum than pre-partum.

Looking at the data presented by Graph 2, where the data was isolated and observed

based on the number of offspring, the results were consistent with that of Graph 1, also

exhibiting higher durations of feed intake postpartum rather than pre-partum. Gardner and

Hough investigated how successful nutrient development was in ewes that had sucking twins

versus suckling singles, what was found was that there is a higher nutrient quality in milk

produced for sucking twins when compared to the milk produced for sucking singles (Gardner et.

al. 1964). This coincides and supports the results founded in this research because it is assumed

that ewe raising sucking twins will have to consume more to produce more milk for the young to

suckle, therefore having to consume a higher portion of feed for higher nutrient content, which is
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done by ingesting feed for a longer duration of time. Whereas the ewe raising single offspring

maintain nutrient intake enough to support one sucking offspring, making the milk composition

to be less nutrient dense because of the lower about of feed intake.

Possible sources of error include not taking appropriate measurements at exactly every

minute, people occasionally scaring the ewes from eating, and the weather. The timer used was at

disposal of my smartphone with had the application called clock, which has the sub-option,

stop watch that showed minutes, seconds and milliseconds that have passed by; the

consumption of feed was noted each minute. The weather was consistently a warm 80 degrees

Fahrenheit, but there was one day in observations in which there was rain, preventing the ewe to

retrieve food. There were occasional disturbances from other students doing observations as well

that frightened some of the sheep or inhibited them from eating. The biggest possible error falls

to the limitation of sample size, having only a number of 7 ewe to represent a whole specie

cannot draw conclusive data.

Unfortunately, when evaluating the standards of deviations in a statistical point of view,

the data cannot be used to confirm any results due to a small sample size. This is further justified

by showing too much variability and range to make a credible observation if postpartum has a

greater duration time than pre-partum. Interpretation of the data is difficult to confirm mainly due

to the small sample size. Graph 1, demonstrates high differences but with ranges too wide to

make accurate observations. When analyzing Graph 2, it did lower some of the major differences

exemplified in Graph 1, although the differences were not significance to deciphering differences

in durations of feed intake pre-partum and postpartum.

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While the hypothesis is supported by the averages calculated from the data, the data

collected from this study does not show a significant difference in durations of feed intake during

pre-partum and postpartum. Conclusively, the data found does not support the hypothesis that the

duration of feed intake during postpartum would be longer than the duration of consumption

during pre-partum.

Although the data cannot verify the hypothesis proposed, this does not take away from

the importance of feed intake for animals during pregnancy and onto motherhood. Duration of

consumption could also play a role in diagnosing an animal with potential metabolic diseases.

Two possible metabolic diseases include ketosis and hypocalcemia both propose signs of lack of

appetite and feed intake; if not treated properly, these diseases can lead to lethal results for the

animal and her offspring. Feed intake of the ewe is essential for proper supplementation of

nutrients to her offspring for milk secretion, supporting health maintenance, as well as growth

and development. Without proper proportion and duration of feed intake, the ewe and her

offspring would not have been able to sustain life.

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Average Pre-Partum (minutes per hour) 21

Average Postpartum (minutes per hour) 26

Pre-partum Standard Deviation 8.56

Postpartum Standard Deviation 2.12

Table 1. This table displays the averages pre-partum,

postpartum and day of parturition durations.

Averaged'Dura*ons'of'Consump*on'
Prepartum'vs.'Postpartum'
25"
Average'Dura*on'of'Consump*on'

20"

15" Prepartum"

Postpartum"
10"

5"

0"
1"
Pre3partum'vs.'Postpartum'

Graph 1. This graph shows the average in pre-partum

and postpartum durations, as well as standard error
bars that show variance when comparing the two
periods of observation.
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Average'Dura*on'of'Consump*on'

Average'Dura*on'of'Conump*on'(min./
Rela*ve'to'Number'of'Ospring'
25"

20"
Pre)partum"
hour)' 15"

10" Postpartum"

5"

0"
1"
Prepartum'vs.'Postpartum'

Graph 2. This graph illustrated further comparison of average

durations of feed intake by comparing to the number of offspring
birthed by each ewe. The postpartum durations were overall higher
than compared to pre-partum durations; standard error bars are also
represented.

Pre7partum(and(Postpartum(Observa%ons(
45$
40$
Dura%on(of(Consump%on((min./hour)(

35$
30$
25$
20$
Pre!partum$and$
15$ Postpartum$Observa<ons$
10$
5$
0$
1$ 2$ 3$ 4$ 5$ 6$ 7$ 8$ 9$
!5$
!10$
Days((Pre7partum:(174;(Postpartum:(679()(

Graph 3. This graph demonstrates the average amount of

consumption per each day, overlapped by each days standard
deviation. Days 1-4 signify the 4 days of pre-partum, day 5
represents the day of parturition and days 6-9 represent the
conclusive 4 days of postpartum.
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