Data from: Long-term and trans-generational effects of neonatal experience on sheep behaviour

Early life experiences can have profound long-term, and sometimes
trans-generational, effects on individual phenotypes. However, there is a
relative paucity of knowledge about effects on pain sensitivity, even
though these may impact on an individual's health and welfare,
particularly in farm animals exposed to painful husbandry procedures.
Here, we tested in sheep whether neonatal painful and non-painful
challenges can alter pain sensitivity in adult life, and also in the next
generation. Ewes exposed to tail-docking or a simulated mild infection
(lipopolysaccharide (LPS)) on days 3–4 of life showed higher levels of
pain-related behaviour when giving birth as adults compared with control
animals. LPS-treated ewes also gave birth to lambs who showed decreased
pain sensitivity in standardized tests during days 2–3 of life. Our
results demonstrate long-term and trans-generational effects of neonatal
experience on pain responses in a commercially important species and
suggest that variations in early life management can have important
implications for animal health and welfare.