Accelerometer-based detection of circadian rhythm disruption in sheep following shearing

. Circadian rhythms regulate physiological and behavioral processes in livestock, influencing welfare, productivity, and adaptation to environmental changes. In sheep, locomotor activity (LA) is a reliable marker of circadian organization and can be continuously monitored using accelerometers. Shearing represents an abrupt management event that alters body insulation and may disturb thermal balance and stress responses, but its effects on circadian rhythmicity have not been quantified. This stud