Maternal ingestion of locoweed: I. Effects on ewe–lamb bonding and behaviour

摘要: This study investigated whether exposure of ewes to locoweed (Oxytropis sericea; Leguminosae) during gestation would affect ewe behaviour parturition, ewe–lamb bonding and related behaviours postpartum, maternal responsiveness alien own lambs. Twenty-nine nulliparous Columbia-Targhee bearing a single fetus were divided into two feeding treatments: (1) (L, n = 15), fed as 10% pellet at 3 kg/day from day 100 130 gestation, or (2) controls (C, 14) alfalfa hay. Lamb birth weights reduced about 25% (P < 0.001) ingestion. There was distinct lack maternal–infant due intoxication Only 1 lamb born L able nurse without assistance within 120 min. Lambs took longer stand 0.05), initiate teat-seeking 0.03), suckle 0.0007). The behavioural toxicosis did not persist in lambs, anomalies largely disappeared 10 days following parturition. Locoweed-intoxicated general had an increased propensity 0.1) for locomotor activity, notably fetal expulsion, expulsion times 0.1). few differences induced by up 30 min when became inattentive lambs After the first (human assisted) suckling bout, attentive toward both their Both C dams equally aggressive These results indicate that survival after will depend greatly on human intervention. If locoweed-exposed survive 24–48 h birth, then prognosis improves greatly. Published Elsevier B.V.