Repeated transport and isolation during pregnancy in ewes: Effects on the reactivity to humans and to their offspring after lambing

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine if repeated exposure to stressors of a different nature and intensity during the last 6 weeks of pregnancy modifies the reactivity of ewes to their lambs and to humans after lambing. Multiparous ewes were either subjected to 10 sessions of transport in isolation twice a week for 1h (TRAN, n=20 ewes), 10 sessions of isolation with or without the presence of a dog twice a week for 1h (ISOL, n=20 ewes) or no disturbance (CON, n=19 ewes). Blood samples were collected during the 1st, 5th and 9th stress sessions for the TRAN and ISOL ewes and cortisol responses were measured. Maternal reactivity and fear of a human were measured during several challenge situa..