Acute stress response to winter pre-lambing shearing in ewes with and without maternal experience

This study aimed to compare the acute stress response to winter pre-lambing shearing between ewes with and without maternal experience. Twenty-four Finnish Landrace x Polwarth ewes in the last month of gestation were used. Twelve ewes had previous maternal experience (ME), and 12 ewes were undergoing their first pregnancy and were therefore considered without maternal experience (WME). Heart rate, rectal temperature, and eye temperature were recorded immediately before shearing (0 min) and immediately after shearing (5 min). Blood samples were collected, and hormonal (cortisol) and biochemical (total protein, albumin, globulin, and glucose) indicators were determined. Heart rate, rectal temperature, eye temperature, serum cortisol concentration, and plasma glucose level increased after shearing (P < 0.05). Eye temperature significantly increased after shearing only in WME ewes (P = 0.004). The rectal temperature tended to be higher in WME ewes than in ME ewes (P = 0.07). WME ewes had higher serum cortisol concentrations after shearing than ME ewes (P = 0.049). Biochemical indicators did not vary according to the ewes’ maternal experience. In conclusion, ewes’ maternal experience influenced the acute stress response to shearing during late gestation. WME had a greater stress response to shearing than ME, which was evidenced by a higher increases in serum cortisol concentration and eye temperature.