Effects of pregnancy type, genotype, and parturition stage on ewe behavior

Abstract. This study aimed to investigate the effects of pregnancy type, genotype, and parturition stage on sheep behavior. It also examined how pregnancy type and genotype influence labor characteristics. These evaluations were necessary because the length and difficulty of the early stages of parturition can impact the ewe's condition and parturition-related behavior, potentially disrupting the development of ewe–lamb bonding, which plays a critical role in neonatal lamb survival. Behavioral data were collected via video recordings from three sheep genotypes. The average lying and standing frequencies (hourly posture changes) during the first and second stages of parturition were 3.62 ± 0.33 and 8.53 ± 1.35, respectively (P<0.001). In the first stage, these frequencies were 4.39 ± 0.51 for singleton pregnancies and 2.85 ± 0.38 for twin pregnancies (P= 0.041). During the second stage, the frequencies were 12.64 ± 2.35 for singleton pregnancies and 4.42 ± 0.59 for twin pregnancies (P= 0.013). The duration of the second stage of parturition was significantly affected by pregnancy type (P= 0.009), averaging 48.18 ± 11.39 min for singleton pregnancies and 90.09 ± 10.09 min for twin pregnancies. Genotype had no significant effect on the duration of the second stage of parturition (P= 0.782). Time of day had an impact (P= 0.002), with 18:00–00:00 (Türkiye, UTC+3) being the period with the highest proportion of births (41.56 %). In conclusion, parturition-related behaviors are generally influenced by pregnancy type and stage of labor, while genotype appears to have minimal effect. The lying and standing frequencies per hour may serve as a useful indicator for predicting pregnancy type and timing of delivery.