A note on sheltering behaviour by ewes before and after lambing

To investigate the effects of lambing and lamb rearing on sheltering behavi our in ewes, multiparous Romney X Perendale crossbred ewes with either nine (n = 5 ewes) or three months' (n = 5 ewes) wool growth were observed durin g daylight hours for six weeks over the lambing period, in a pasture with l ittle vegetative shelter but with a 3 m long corrugated iron and timber she lter. Use of the shelter (ewes in the shelter) and shelter frontage (ewes w ithin 2 m of the front of the shelter), and weather conditions rated on sub jective numerical scales, were recorded six times daily. A major increase i n shelter use was observed from 0.8% during pregnancy to 21.9 (SED 3.5)% on the first day after parturition (P < 0.001), followed by a gradual decline with days from parturition to stable levels of about 5%. Shelter use varie d with the time of day (P < 0.05), being greatest in the late evening, and also with the weather, with more use as temperature decreased (P < 0.001), and as rain (P < 0.001) and wind increased (P < 0.001). Use of the shelter frontage was 6.1% during pregnancy compared with 20 (SED 3.15)% on the firs t day after parturition (P < 0.001), and declined with lamb age to stable l evels of about 7% when the lambs were aged approximately 20 days. Use of th e frontage varied with the time of day (P < 0.001), being greatest at midda y, and also with weather, with more use as temperature decreased (P < 0.001 ), and less use as cloud cover increased (P < 0.05). (C) 1999 Elsevier Scie nce B.V. All rights reserved.