The effect of weaning method on stress and the welfare in early weaned lambs

The aim of the study to evaluate the effect of weaning method on stress and welfare in lambs based on their growth, locomotor activity, behavior and hematological parametrers. The experiment was conducted with 45 lambs born from 63 4-year-old Lacaune sheep. Three weaning methods were applied, abrupt weaning (AW, control, n=15), versus two preweaning separation strategies, separation of lambs from mothers at night (NS, n=15) and preweaning separation of lambs during the day (DS, n=15). During the pre-weaning period (PWP) the BW of NS and DS lambs was lower compared to that of animals that are not separated from mothers (P