Social Attachment-Sheep
show aversion to the odors of lambs--avoid or withdraw from lambs
show aggression toward lambs--“butting” lambs
Immediately after parturition, the pregnant ewe shows two responses:
maternal behavior
- approaching and following the lamb
- low-pitched bleating (vocalizations)
- sniffing and licking the lamb
- permitting suckling (nursing)
- behaviors inhibited: withdrawing from lamb & butting the lamb
olfactory recognition of lamb
- formation of a social bond with lamb leading to selective nursing of own lamb but not that of others (formation of an olfactory memory)