Ethogram in bannur sheep under farm condition

The experimental sheep (Bannur breed) were observed for their basic behavior patterns for six hundred hours, six hours in a day during the study. Study was done to construct the ethogram for bannur breed of sheep under semi-intensive farm conditions. Eight main behavioral categories consisting of forty-six different behavioral patterns were grouped under different headings, were used for the study. Behavioral categories included, gaits, animal oriented locomotion, visual patterns, object and self oriented contact patterns, vocal and non-vocal patterns, stretching patterns, stationary body positions and stances and feeding, digestive and elimination patterns. Sheep utilized the maximum time for grazing activity with occasional browsing on plants, trees, etc. Defecation and urination were the common patterns exhibited along with the feeding activities. Most of the activities were expressed during the day time. The rumination was observed during rest while the animals slept during night times. These results of the study indicated that the bannur sheep express maximum natural behavioral activities in free range system. Further the behavior patterns exhibited under confinement are only need based suggesting that the animal prefer an independent free movement space than enclosed systems.