Repeated transport and isolation during pregnancy in ewes: Differential effects on emotional reactivity and weight of their offspring

The aim of this experiment was to study the effects of different stressors applied to pregnant ewes during the last third of pregnancy on the emotional reactivity of their lambs. Forty ewes were subjected twice a week during the last 6 weeks of gestation to 10 sessions of isolation (ISOL, n=20) or o...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Applied animal behaviour science 2008-02, Vol.109 (2-4), p.275-291
Main Authors: Roussel-Huchette, Sabine, Hemsworth, Paul Hamilton, Boissy, Alain, Duvaux-Ponter, Christine
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agricultural sciences
animal behavior
animal stress
animal transport
body weight
cortisol
dams (mothers)
Emotional reactivity
ewes
fearfulness
Gender differences
hormone secretion
isolation stress
Lamb
lambs
Life Sciences
pregnancy
Prenatal stress
progeny
social isolation
Weight
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Summary:The aim of this experiment was to study the effects of different stressors applied to pregnant ewes during the last third of pregnancy on the emotional reactivity of their lambs. Forty ewes were subjected twice a week during the last 6 weeks of gestation to 10 sessions of isolation (ISOL, n=20) or of transport in isolation (TRAN, n=20). Nineteen other ewes (CON) were not disturbed. The emotional reactivity of their lambs to social isolation, a startling stimulus (opening of an umbrella), a novel arena and a novel object was tested at 1 and 3 months of age. Lambs born to ewes transported during pregnancy jumped less and explored more during tests involving exposure to isolation, novelty and startling compared to control lambs (p
ISSN:0168-1591
1872-9045
DOI:10.1016/j.applanim.2007.02.005