Efeito da presença de um coespecífico no alojamento de ovelhas em novo ambiente, após estresse agudo causado pelo transporte / Effect of the Presence of a Conspecific in the Housing of Sheep in the New Environment, Following Acute Stress Caused by Transportation

ABSTRACT

Sheep are social and gregarious animals. They feel at ease when free and clustered rather than isolated. In some situations, as in experimental procedures, they need to be separated from the flock and kept without social company. Both instances, separation from the flock and isolation are considered stressful and may impact their well being. As stress can affect the results of the study, special care should be taken when conducting biomedical or veterinary research. The aim of this study was to compare the concentration of cortisol and behavior of ewes housed at a research institution in the presence of a familiar conspecific, an unfamiliar conspecific or in the absence of conspecifics.