Abstract The aims of the current study were to detect behavioural indicators of pain of tail-docked sheep tested in isolation and to determine the relationship between behaviour and the pain levels to which they were exposed. Twenty-four female lambs, randomly assigned to four pens, had their tail docked with a rubber ring (TD; n = 6) without pain control procedures, TD with anaesthesia (TDA; n = 6) or TD with anaesthesia and analgesia (TDAA; n = 6). Additionally, six lambs handled but without tail docking or application of pain relief measures were used as the control (C). On the day prior (Day –1) to the TD and on days 1, 3 and 5 post-procedure, each lamb was individually removed from its group and underwent a 2.5 min open field test in a separate pen. Frequencies of behaviours such as rest, running, standing, walking and exploring were directly observed. Frequencies of exploratory climbs (ECs) and abrupt climbs (ACs) over the testing pen’s walls were video-recorded. Data were analysed using generalised linear mixed models with repeated measurements, including treatment and day as fixed effects and behaviour on Day –1 as a linear covariate. Control and TDAA lambs stood more frequently than TD lambs. TD lambs performed significantly more ACs compared to all other treatment groups. No other treatment effects were detected. A day effect was detected for all behaviours, while the EC frequency was highest for all tail-docked lambs on Day 5. Findings suggest that standing, ACs and ECs could be used as potential indicators of pain in isolated tail-docked lambs. However, differences in ECs between treatments only appeared 3 d after tail docking.

中文翻译：

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单独测试断尾羔羊的行为

摘要 本研究的目的是检测单独测试的尾对接绵羊的疼痛行为指标，并确定行为与它们所暴露的疼痛水平之间的关系。24 只雌性羔羊，随机分配到四个围栏，它们的尾巴用橡胶环对接（TD；n = 6），没有疼痛控制程序，TD 麻醉（TDA；n = 6）或 TD 麻醉和镇痛（TDAA） ；n = 6）。此外，使用处理但没有断尾或应用镇痛措施的六只羔羊作为对照（C）。在 TD 的前一天（第 –1 天）和手术后的第 1、3 和 5 天，将每只羔羊从其组中单独取出，并在单独的围栏中进行 2.5 分钟的露天试验。休息、跑步、站立等行为的频率，直接观察步行和探索。对测试笔壁上的探索性攀爬 (EC) 和突然攀爬 (AC) 的频率进行了视频记录。使用具有重复测量的广义线性混合模型对数据进行分析，包括治疗和天作为固定效应和第-1 天的行为作为线性协变量。对照和 TDAA 羔羊比 TD 羔羊站立更频繁。与所有其他处理组相比，TD 羔羊表现出明显更多的 AC。没有检测到其他治疗效果。所有行为都检测到了一天的影响，而所有断尾羔羊的 EC 频率在第 5 天最高。研究结果表明，站立、AC 和 EC 可用作孤立的断尾羔羊疼痛的潜在指标。然而，处理之间的 EC 差异仅在尾对接后 3 天出现。对测试笔壁上的探索性攀爬 (EC) 和突然攀爬 (AC) 的频率进行了视频记录。使用具有重复测量的广义线性混合模型对数据进行分析，包括治疗和天作为固定效应和第-1 天的行为作为线性协变量。对照和 TDAA 羔羊比 TD 羔羊站立更频繁。与所有其他处理组相比，TD 羔羊表现出明显更多的 AC。没有检测到其他治疗效果。所有行为都检测到了一天的影响，而所有断尾羔羊的 EC 频率在第 5 天最高。研究结果表明，站立、AC 和 EC 可用作孤立的断尾羔羊疼痛的潜在指标。然而，处理之间的 EC 差异仅在尾对接后 3 天出现。对测试笔壁上的探索性攀爬 (EC) 和突然攀爬 (AC) 的频率进行了视频记录。使用具有重复测量的广义线性混合模型对数据进行分析，包括治疗和天作为固定效应和第-1 天的行为作为线性协变量。对照和 TDAA 羔羊比 TD 羔羊站立更频繁。与所有其他处理组相比，TD 羔羊表现出明显更多的 AC。没有检测到其他治疗效果。所有行为都检测到了一天的影响，而所有断尾羔羊的 EC 频率在第 5 天最高。研究结果表明，站立、AC 和 EC 可用作孤立的断尾羔羊疼痛的潜在指标。然而，处理之间的 EC 差异仅在尾对接后 3 天出现。