The behaviour of Finnsheep during and shortly after lambing

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The lambing and post-lambing maternal behavior was studied in 48 Finnish Landrace sheep with Finnsheep ewes of various ages and their newborn lambs. The duration of parturition differed between the different age groups. Ewes with parturition problems were assisted. Although parturition time was distributed throughout 24 h, the majority of the ewes lambed between 1300-1800 h. Different patterns of lamb behavior were observed. As birth weight increased the time from birth until the lamb was standing tended to be shorter. Most lambs which died within 3 days of age had failed to stand and such properly. Finnsheep apparently need a high degree of husbandry.