Do ewes recognize their lambs within the first day postpartum without the help of olfactory cues?

Two studies were carried out to test the ability of Prealpes du Sud x Lacau ne (Study 1) and Rambouillet ewes (Study 2) to recognize their lambs during the first 24 h postpartum. Ewes were given the choice between their own an d an alien lamb of approximately the same age, in a triangular pen of 10 m x 10 m x 10 m. A lamb was placed in each of the two corners while the mothe r was released from the third corner. Direct access to the lambs was preven ted by an open barrier located at 1 m from the pens in which the lambs were kept. Ewes were studied at 8 h (n = 10, 12), 12 h (n = 20, 10) and 24 h po stpartum (n = 29, 9; Study 1 and Study 2 respectively). Tests lasted 3 and 5 min in Study 1 and 2, respectively. Although the first choice of the ewes did not differ from random, in both studies mothers spent significantly mo re time near their own lamb than near the alien. In both breeds a significa nt preference for the own lamb was already present at 8 h (P < 0.05). We co nclude that elves are very likely to recognize their lamb without the aid o f olfactory cues as early as 8 h postpartum. which is much sooner than thou ght from previous studies. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserv ed.