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Effects of stocking density on lambs being transported by road
Author(s) -
Knowles T. G.,
Warriss P. D.,
Brown S. N.,
Edwards J. E.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
veterinary record
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.261
H-Index - 99
eISSN - 2042-7670
pISSN - 0042-4900
DOI - 10.1136/vr.142.19.503
Subject(s) - stocking , zoology , biology , environmental science , geography
Lambs were transported for 24 hours during summer and winter at a range of stocking densities. Shorn lambs of mean liveweight 39.5 kg were transported at densities of 0.448, 0.513, 0.602 and 0.769 m 2 /100 kg in July and fully‐fleeced lambs of 37.3 kg mean liveweight were transported at densities of 0.613, 0.680, 0.775 and 0.909 m 2 /100 kg in February. Fewer lambs lay down and rested at high stocking densities and there was a marked increase in the plasma levels of creatine kinase at the highest stocking density in winter. All other measured effects of stocking density were small when compared with the overall effects of transport. There was a decrease in body temperature during transport, especially in the lambs that were recently shorn, even though they were transported during warm summer conditions. At the highest stocking density there was a smaller decrease in body temperature.