This study investigates the development of a practical system for temperament assessment in sheep on-farm using currently available weighing technology. Most commercial livestock scales are capable of recording multiple weights per second, which are normally used to obtain an average weight. The movement of a sheep within a weighing crate can be measured by this continuous liveweight recording system using the coefficient of variation (CV) of the weight measured over 5 to 20 seconds. Calmer sheep were defined as those exhibiting lower CV measurements. The repeatability of these measurements was 0.52 to 0.59 (p<0.1%) in adult sheep, and was increased with greater experience of the weighing process. Movement scores at 6 to 7 months of age were highly repeatable and lamb scores at 7 months were correlated (p<1%) with their dam's score. The calmest sheep exhibited higher liveweight, improved maternal behaviour, and increased lamb survival (p<5%). © 2009 International Journal of Sheep and Wool Science. All rights reserved.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Research Division:	Agricultural, Veterinary and Food Sciences
Research Group:	Animal production
Research Field:	Animal growth and development
Objective Division:	Animal Production and Animal Primary Products
Objective Group:	Livestock raising
Objective Field:	Sheep for meat
UTAS Author:	Horton, BJ (Dr Brian Horton)
UTAS Author:	Miller, Dale (Dr Dale Miller)
ID Code:	60414
Year Published:	2009
Deposited By:	Agricultural Science
Deposited On:	2010-02-03
Last Modified:	2011-05-18
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