DOI: https://doi.org/10.5513/JCEA01/26.4.4934
Review article
Importance of animal welfare in sheep reproductive technologies
2025, 26 (4) p. 835-844
Melinda BAGI, Viktor JURKOVICH, Nóra VASS
Abstract
Reproductive performance of sheep has a decisive impact on the productivity of the flock, but this is influenced by many factors (e.g. stress, management technology). Applying assisted reproductive technologies ensures genetic selection and genetic progress in sheep farming. However, the application of these methods also has an impact on animal welfare. Animals need to experience as little stress and pain as possible during reproductive and animal health interventions, which can be achieved by optimising husbandry technology and continuously monitoring the stress levels or pain of the animals. Several methods can measure the level of stress and pain induced by various interventions, one of the most important is measuring cortisol concentration (from blood, saliva, wool, urine or faeces), since in the event of a negative stress effect, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis is activated and the concentration of cortisol produced thus shows the degree of stress. Cortisol also has a negative impact on reproductive performance. In addition, the well-being of animals can be monitored using other precision devices, like boluses and accelerometers. During assisted reproductive interventions, the goal is to compare different techniques and then choose the one that causes minimal stress and pain for the animals.
Keywords
assisted reproduction, cortisol, sheep, stress, well-being
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