Effect of hypokinesia on the behaviour of lambs

The studies were performed on 13 lambs at the age of 3.5 months divided into 2 groups: experimental (n=6), immobilized for 72 h and control (n=7) that was allowed to move freely. The following ethological parameters: duration and dynamics of feeding, times spent lying and ruminating; times spent standing and ruminating, times spent lying or standing were evaluated by individual chronometry. The haematological parameters (red blood cell counts, white blood cell counts, haemoglobin content and haematocrit) were measured on an automated analyser System 150. Blood samples were obtained prior to immobilization (background) and by post immobilization hours 0.25, 24, 48 and 72. Haematological data showed no statistically significant differences between groups during the entire experimental period. The most pronounced differences were observed by respect to the time spent standing and ruminating (a marker of discomfort) whose values were considerably higher in immobilized lambs than in controls. In experimental animals, a significant reduction in the time spent lying and prolongation of the time spent standing were also observed.