Effects of the maternal behavior score (MBS) on weaning weight and litter survival in sheep

Abstract

This study intends to describe the differences concerning maternal behavior score between the 
different genotypes and groups of the age of dam in less selected Norduz, Karaka , and Ile-de
FrancexAkkaraman (G1)xKaraka crosses, and also aims to determine the effects of Maternal Behavior 
Score (MBS) on weaning weight and survival of lambs in genotypes studied. Experimental subjects 
were 92 heads of the 2, 3 and 4 years-old of the Norduz, karaka and Ile-de-FrancexAkkaraman 
(G1)xKaraka crosses. The MBS was scored on a 5-point scale based on the distance a ewe retreats from 
her lambs when the shepherd is tagging them. Within 24 h of birth, maternal behavior score was 
evaluated, and survival of the lambs was calculated from birth to weaning and at the same time 
measured the weaning weight in lambs. We detected that in the ewes lambing the first time MBS were 
lower than those that they were lambed before (P < 0.01). Similarly, there were the significant 
differences between genotypes; less selected Norduz sheep had higher maternal behavior score than 
Karaka and Ile-de-FrancexAkkaraman (G1)xKaraka crosses (P < 0.01). The effects of the maternal 
behavior on weaning weight and survival of the lambs were not found, statistically. It is concluded that 
with intense improvement programs in genotypes, a reduction regarding maternal behavior score is 
observed. In other words, the intense improvement programs in extensive animal breeding reduce the 
maternal ability in sheep.