In dairy sheep farming, lambs are often separated from their mothers shortly after birth – a procedure that can be stressful for both the ewe and the lamb. Rearing practices vary in Switzerland: some farms keep the lambs on the farm until they are weaned, while others send them for fattening at an early age, which causes additional stress due to transport and mixing with unfamiliar animals. Only a few farms practise mother-bonded rearing, in which the lambs remain with their mothers for several weeks.
The data on stress levels in the various systems, especially under Swiss conditions, is very limited. The project therefore investigates differences between mother-bonded and motherless rearing on the farm of birth using stress markers such as cortisol metabolites in faeces and behavioural observations of ewes and lambs, as well as weight development of the lambs. The aim is to scientifically investigate the influence of different rearing systems on the stress levels of ewes and lambs.
Project manager
