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.

早期生命经历可对个体表型（phenotype）产生深远的长期影响，部分情况下还会引发跨代效应。尽管这类影响可能会对个体的健康与福利造成显著作用，尤其针对需接受有创畜牧操作的农场动物，但目前学界对早期经历如何作用于疼痛敏感性的相关认知仍相对匮乏。本研究以绵羊为对象，探究新生期有创与无创刺激是否会改变个体成年后的疼痛敏感性，以及该效应是否会传递至下一代。研究发现，于出生后3~4日龄接受断尾术或模拟轻度感染（脂多糖（LPS））处理的母羊，在成年分娩时表现出的疼痛相关行为水平显著高于对照组母羊。经脂多糖处理的母羊所产羔羊，在出生后2~3日龄的标准化疼痛敏感性测试中，其疼痛敏感性显著降低。本研究结果证实了新生期经历对具有重要商业养殖价值的物种的疼痛反应存在长期及跨代效应，并提示早期饲养管理的差异可能会对动物健康与福利产生重要影响。