[Jacob-list] Behavior

[Jacobflock at aol.com]

In a message dated 7/23/2003 12:19:06 AM Central Standard Time, 
snielsen at orednet.org writes:

> Who has an assessment of what it means, exactly, when sheep stamp
> their feet at you.

This is very, very long but may be of interest as a whole range of Jacob 
behavior has appeared on the list.  Dr. Valerius Geist, Professor Emeritus at the 
University of Calgary, published the definitive work "Mountain Sheep" in 1971 
after spending over four years in the field in northwest North America.  This 
book in offers a  methodology to categorize and understand behavior traits in 
wild sheep that are often observed  with unimproved  domestic sheep and the 
Jacob in particular.  There is also material available in "National Wildlife" 
Oct/Nov 1982 which draws heavily from Geist's authoritative works. The following 
is "quoted" from Geist (1971).

"There is no "female form" in mountain sheep society as there is in our own 
since the adult female and male look much alike at sexual maturation.  Males 
are neotenous as they continue to grow for 5 or 6 years after maturation and 
segregate into herds of their own away from females and juveniles.  This is 
segregation by behavior; sexually immature stay in female bands, those acting like 
males in male bands.  The male groups are homosexual societies in which the 
dominant acts the role of the courting male and the subordinates, the female.  
The dominant male treats all sheep smaller than he as females; it is his 
prerogative to act sexually, it is the subordinate's prerogative to act 
aggressively.  Most aggressive behavior is directed by subordinates at dominants, not 
vice-versa.  Male dominance and breeding success run parallel with horn size, and 
rams use their horns not only as weapons and shields but also as rank symbols. 
 These rank symbols allow rams to live in a predictable social surrounding 
and sheep to live in an open society.  The largest horned ram becomes the 
leader.

"In fighting the ram combines the principle of the sledge hammer with that of 
the karate chop and smashes his heavy horns edge first into the opponent.  
The latter catches it skillfully with his horns.  Since the clashes are rendered 
harmless by the defense, rams can freely indulge in battles and serious 
fights can be long and tedious but rarely injurious.  (( FH note: There are no 
multi-horn wild sheep and mixing two horn and four horn sheep can have serious 
consequences ofr the "weaker" multi-horn condition))  Social selection appears to 
be responsible not only for the thick skull but also the thick skin on the 
nose.  Frequent minor fights allow rams to associate horn size with clash impact 
and hence to judge an opponent's combat potential.  Rams fight, not for 
females but for dominance and they do it year round.  They primarily test rams of 
similar dominance and take advantage of rivals occupied in combat by smashing 
into their sides and may persecute injured superiors.  Sheep are egocentric and 
pay little attention to a sick and disabled member…except for butting it.

"The female sheep has two behavior phases; normally she acts like a juvenile 
but during estrus she acts like a subordinate, young, male.

"There were seventeen behavior patterns I recognized and thirteen were 
quantified as frequent and conspicuous.  Behavior patterns are signals - postures 
and actions performed in a more or less stereotyped, distinct manner before 
conspecifics and accompanied occasionally by emissions of sounds and odors.  They 
are conspicuous acts which stand out from the normal grazing, resting, or 
walking.  Normal everyday actions are slow and relaxed, never rigid; a rigid 
stance is already an alarm signal. Social behavior patterns are characterized by 
unusual body conformations, by faster or slower, jerkier or stiffer movements 
than normal ones, by non-random orientation toward other sheep and emissions and 
noises. One can learn to distinguish and identify these signals.

Attention and alarm
"During normal walking the sheep's head is held quite low, nose pointing to 
the ground, while the ears are held back and droop down a little.  If the sheep 
raises its head and holds it up rigidly while walking, with tense steps, it 
at once draws the attention of all others.  This is the alarm posture.

"An alarmed sheep need not run away but may move at a stiff, tense walk. It 
stops periodically, looks at the source of the disturbance, and struts on.  It 
appears to glance backward from the corner of one eye at the disturbance; 
sheep appear capable of watching something almost behind them without turning 
their head.  

"In addition to assuming the characteristic posture, alarmed sheep may stamp 
the ground with a front leg and blow sharply through the nose. It is more 
common to see excited, alarmed sheep perform several short hops with all legs 
bunched under, reminiscent of stotting in gazelles.

"A sheep suddenly freezing and staring in one direction alerts others to do 
the same.  This is the attention posture.  Ears are perked forward and may 
orient its body along the line of sight.  A sheep that frequently interrupts 
feeding, and then, in a less rigid posture, looks steadily across a valley 
indicates it will soon move in that direction.  With its gaze the sheep gives notice 
of its intent to travel and of the direction it will take.

Horning
"Sheep of all ages and sexes horn shrubs, grass bunches or small trees.   It 
occurs frequently during dominance fights of rams where it is performed by 
both partners.  Some horning may be done to remove an uncomfortable clump of 
hair.  Occasionally rams butted heavily elastic conifer stems and let the backlash 
carry them back to their original stance.  Others just horned and nibbled 
juniper branches and appeared to grow excited by this.  It may be that essential 
oils found in conifers stimulate sheep to damage trees. Horning is 
occasionally contagious, several rams start once one begins.  Horning may be initiated by 
a butt, after which the horns are rotated or scrubbed under pressure over 
grass bushes, shrubs or small trees.  There is an aggressive overtone in this 
behavior.

Orientation toward the conspecific
"During grazing sheep are dispersed and no obvious orientation is apparent. 
However, Crofton (1958) found that grazing domestic sheep orient to fix a 
fellow sheep with each eye.  Each sheep tended to graze in such a manner that its 
body bisected and angle of approximately 110 degrees formed by it and the two 
sheep it had a fix on.

"A ewe calling her lamb orients toward the lamb and looks directly at it.  
Otherwise, a direct stare of one sheep at another appears to be an aggressive 
posture, although the evidence for this is indirect.  Subordinates look away 
from dominants when the later approach and often turn their rears to them.  Even 
lambs do this.  During the post-clash present the subordinate ram may close 
his eyes rather than look at the dominant's face.  Sheep tend to rest in such a 
manner as not to face each other directly.  Only dominant sheep are free to 
look in all directions.  When sheep are close together they tend to face in the 
same direction, probably because this minimizes staring and is the most 
peaceful group structure.  With sheep a stare is aggressive behavior.

"When sheep are on the move they discourage others from passing by butting at 
them, displaying in low-stretch, or by quickly running ahead and cutting them 
off.  This restores the original march order.  Occasionally, small sheep 
attempting to pass a grazing dominant at close range are butted back severely the 
moment they reach the shoulder level of the dominant.  It appears that sheep 
in general attempt to keep others behind them.  However, this easily gives rise 
to the illusion that a leading sheep defends its "lead" position, whereas any 
sheep further down the line also discourages others from passing.  This 
results in a stable march order in single file.  During flight, however, sheep run 
off as a tight bunch behind the lead animals.

Behavior patterns used in social interactions
Horn displays: low stretch and the present
"The horn displays are the most common social behavior pattern used.  They 
are present or display threats shown by the dominant to subordinate.  In the low 
stretch the horns are displayed from a lowered head; in the present, from an 
elevated head.  In both displays the horns are shown fronto-laterally and it 
appears that more horn is visible to the opponent in this position than in a 
frontal or lateral one.  If the size of the horns is important in these 
displays, then rams must be able to distinguish horns of different sizes and must be 
able to respond correctly to rams with smaller or larger horns.

"The low-stretch is performed: (1) between rams of equal or near equal horn 
size, otherwise only the larger-horned ram displays; (2) by rams, and 
occasionally females, when entering or leaving a group, when passing subordinate at a 
close distance or a resting dominant one at a greater distance, or when leading 
a band of rams.  The low-stretch is like a salute but has the opposite 
meaning; (3) by rams courting ewes; (4) by adult sheep attempting to displace a 
subordinate from his resting place.

The low-stretch is shown primarily by rams and infrequently by females.  It 
is missing from the repertoire of young lambs.

The present is performed with a raised head.  Displaying rams pull their 
noses slightly away from the opponent and it appears as if they look past each 
other.  The head is also pulled back, so that the neck muscles bulge.  The 
present is most conspicuous after the clash.  The rams recoil back and freeze into a 
rigid present for a considerable time span.  The present is virtually absent 
after clashes during vicious battles.  It is commonly seen in huddles by rams 
and courtship by the estrous female; the dominant rams present while 
subordinates, or females, rub or horn their necks, horns, or bodies.

Twist
The twist is similar to an intensified low-stretch.  The ram dips its head 
down, simultaneously rotates it sharply about its axis, flicks rapidly with the 
tongue and expels a harsh loud growl.  If he stands close behind the opponent 
or female, the ram may push his muzzle into the side.  The twist appears in 
many variations.  It may be coupled with the front kick, in which case the ram 
also pushes his opponent with his chest.  The twist may end a low-stretch 
approach of a ram to a ewe after which the ram freezes into a horn display.  The 
twist appears to be a serious display.

Front kick ("Laufeinschlag")
The kick with the extended front leg is performed mainly by dominant rams on 
all subordinate sheep irrespective of sex and age.  The ram whips the front 
leg up and hits the opponent ventrally on the chest, belly, haunches, and 
occasionally neck and chin. The front kick is less a kick than a push.  It is rarely 
performed by ewes, if so, by dominant ewes.  Old rams kick more frequently 
than young ones.  On rare occasions the front kick is replaced by pawing if the 
opponent is resting.

Neck fight
The neck fight is a rare behavior pattern.  The rams put their chins and 
throats on the withers of their opponents, however, no pushing or wrestling 
followed.  This behavior, common in Barbary sheep is vestigal in mountain sheep.

Mount
Mounting is performed by dominant sheep on subordinates irrespective of the 
latter's sex and age. This is a pattern which is the privilege of the dominant. 
 Only if a sheep can mount another without being punished has it demonstrated 
dominance.  Females rarely mount.  Young rams mount spontaneously more 
frequently than older rams.  The mounting posture is erect with head held high and 
nose pointed at the back and pelvic strokes are performed irrespective of sex.. 
 Subordinate males may react like females by showing lordosis or urinating to 
the larger rams.

Lipcurl ("Flehmen")
The lipcurl is normally performed by rams after they lick the urine of ewes 
be it on the ground, in the long hairs below the vulva or as it is expelled.  
After the ram nuzzles the urine, he raises his head, opens his mouth slightly, 
retracts the upper lip and exposes the palate, droops the lower lip slightly 
and often moves the head slowly back and forth.  This is characteristic of 
sexually mature rams; it occurs with female urine and male urine, even their own.

Sniffing of rear
After a ram approaches a ewe in low-stretch he frequently sniffs and nuzzles 
her rear.  Rams will also sniff the rear of subordinate males.  The 
significance of this behavior and the lipcurl have never been demonstrated but there are 
many opinions.  Rams deprived of their sense of smell were not able to 
distinguish between estrous and non-estrous ewes.

Head shake
This behavior is shown almost only by small sheep, sub-adults and females 
after being disturbed by large sheep.  Occasionally during the head shake the 
animal bounces forward, frolics, threat jumps, and runs on.   A threat jump by a 
subordinate male may be initiated with a head shake.  During play, rams 
sometimes shake their heads before butting or clashing.  Small sheep shaking their 
heads in response to a disturbance by larger sheep had on all occasions the 
rump turned to the dominant.  Head shaking is not common.

Horning body, rubbing, and nuzzling
"These three contact patterns are the most commonly used behavior patterns of 
small rams on larger ones.  After a small ram approaches a dominant he begins 
to lick and nuzzle the head of the dominant; horn his face, neck, chest, or 
shoulders, or to rub his face on the face of the dominant.  Dominant rams 
usually accept the horning and rubbing of subordinates or estrous ewes while 
standing in the present but will occasionally kick and growl.

Horn threat
"The horn threat is an intention movement to butt and as such is a true 
weapon threat.  It is frequently shown by subordinates toward the approaching 
dominants or by dominants chasing away subordinates.  The behavior pattern consists 
of lowering the head and inclining the horns at the opponent.

Threat jump
"This is an intention movement to clash in which the sheep rises on its hind 
legs in front of the opponent and inclines its head toward the opponent.  Like 
the clash it is primarily initiated by the subordinate toward the dominant 
and is shown by sheep of all sexes and ages.  It occurs during dominance fights 
and play; in the former it is executed much more stiffly and followed by the 
present, in play it is often preceded by a head shake and performed while 
frolicking.

Butt and clash
"The sole weapons of the mountain sheep are its horns.   The butt, which is 
the mildest blow, is a downward blow with the head, during which the chin is 
drawn in and the horns thrown forward and down.  The sheep puts the weight of 
its rigid body into the butt and pushes the horns against the body once contact 
is made.  When butting the sheep keeps its feet on the ground.

"The clash is a more sophisticated and exaggerated form of the butt and 
differs in the force and means of achieving such force.  Whereas the butt is 
performed by one opponent, both opponents participate in the clash.  The sheep may 
jump into the clash from a four legged stance or after a bipedal run.  It is 
sophisticated specialized behavior which concentrates all the force a ram can 
generate onto one narrow horn keel to achieve a hard blow.

"The clash has several stages.  In the preparatory stage the ram initiating 
the clash faces his opponent, lifts one front leg, and simultaneously tilts his 
head sideways and crouches in the rear.  If the head is tilted to the left, 
the left horn will make first contact.  His eyes are wide open and looking at 
the opponent; ears laid back flat.  The ram may rise on his hind legs and lift 
the front legs off the ground.

"Next, the hind legs propel the body forward and up. Then the body 
straightens out and begins to fall; head and neck are propelled down at a faster rate 
than the body; the chin is pulled in sharply, flinging the heavy horns forward 
and down.  The force of the blow is focused on that one narrow horn keel the 
way a karate fighter concentrates the force of a blow.  Momentarily he stiffens 
into the blow; then, after making contact with one horn, he rotates his head 
and brings the other horn into contact with the opponent. The simplest defense 
against a clash or butt is to jump aside.  This is commonly done by subadults 
and females but rarely by rams.

Geist describes ram, ewe and lamb behavior patterns for mountain sheep in 
great detail.  While the above behaviors appear to be "hawkish" he also describes 
the "dove", the interference of a third ram that spoils the dominance fights 
appearing to take sides and maintain a peaceful social order (page 201).

 Jacob breeders often talk about traits that are not included in the breed 
standard.  Behavior is a trait worthy of observation and reporting.  Geist has 
presented a set of tools for mountain sheep that may be adapted to behavior in 
Jacobs.  While observing your own flock, take notes, pictures or videos of 
various behaviors.  Share your observations. 

Fred Horak
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