BEHAVIORAL-RESPONSES OF LAMBS OF 3 AGES IN THE 1ST 3 HOURS AFTER 3 METHODS OF CASTRATION AND TAIL DOCKING

The behavioural responses of groups of seven lambs were compared with control groups after castration and tail docking by rubber rings, appl ication of a Burdizzo clamp in addition to a rubber ring and after sur gical castration at rive, 21 and 42 days. All methods at all ages prod uced changes in behaviour which were interpreted as indicative of cons iderable pain. The rubber ring groups showed most changes in behaviour at all ages. The rubber ring with Burdizzo groups showed least change s and some lambs in these groups showed much less response than others . The surgical groups showed some behavioural responses which were dif ferent, both qualitatively and quantitatively to those in other groups . It is concluded that indices used for recognition and assessment of acute pain received conditional support, that modification of the rubb er ring with Burdizzo may provide the least painful method without loc al anaesthesia and that age had little effect on the responses.