Spatial relationships between ewes and lambs

The spatial relationships between Merino ewes and their lambs was examined when lambs were 6–16 weeks old. In the first experiment, more than 50% of 6-week-old lambs were found in peer groups, with group size varying from 2 to 16 for the 31 lambs. Thereafter, both the percentage of lambs in peer groups and peer-group size declined progressively. The association in peer groups was strongest when the lambs were grazing. When they were lying, standing or walking they also associated together, but did so in close proximity to ewes.In a second experiment, spatial relationships of 15 ewes and their lambs were studied when the flock was grazing and the lambs were 12–16 weeks old. The strongest association, as measured by first and second nearest neighbours or by individuals within a 10-m radius, was between ewes and their offspring. However, some ewes and some lambs also showed significant preferences for the company of other individuals of their peer groups. Individual ewes and lambs differed in gregariousness, as measured by the numbers of sheep found within a 10-m radius of them.