Do lambs feel more pain as they get older?

[Grem]

My farm boss has been ear tagging lambs, which are between 5 and 12 weeks, today. They really seem to jump when tagged, where as my old flock, which were tagged before 7 days (and some only 24hrs old) didn't seem to notice. Do they feel more pain as they get older? What age do most people tag their lambs and does it differ between breeds? Also, tags on the bottom or top edge of the ear? (I used to use the button tags as they never seemed to get caught)

 

[Northeastfarmer]

I tag mine the day before they go to the mart....that way they don’t rip them out on the wire and feel real pain

 

[yellowbelly]

If you're using EID as a management tool it's best to tag them as they numbered up to leave the mothering pens as, IMHO, it's far easier to do them while you have hold of them rather than stressing them out by chasing them around to catch them later on.
If you don't want/need to know who's who, use @Northeastfarmer's approach.

Do they feel more pain as they get older?

Put the castration rings on a lamb that is 5 hours old and at the same time put the rings on one that is 5 days old - I rest my case M'Lord.

 

[Kiwi Pete]

No real difference IMO it is only the ability to react to the pain that is different with age.
Hypothetically, if you gave a newborn baby, a ten year old child and a veteran rugby player a slapped face or an electric shock -the pain is possibly more traumatic for the baby but it lacks the ability or mental capacity to do anything other than look shocked, the 10 year old will cry, and the rugby player will hunt you down

So early tagging / management / WHY is simply easier on the person who is doing it with smaller animals... I would say they feel considerably less discomfort from tagging etc, relatively, as they age.. that would be logical.

 

[shumungus]

Tagged and ringed before 12 hours old.
Less discomfort for lambs
Easier to catch and handle.
Easier to tag as ear skin much thinner.
Added bonus of not having a lorry driver breathing down your neck as you fight to tag 200 50kg lambs that should have been loaded 15mins ago.

 

[Dry Rot]

I've scrolled past this thread quite a few times because I don't know the answer but I've done a bit of thinking in between times!

Someone once said to me that a characteristic in animals is there because it is of some benefit to the species or Natural Selection would have weeded it out. I think we were discussing the exaggerated bouncy gait of gazelle when there is a lion about. You'd think that was just a waste of energy when they should be getting ready to run. Quite a wise remark from someone who was otherwise a complete idiot!

Apparently, gazelle bounce to show off to the lion how fit they are and how it would be a waste of time chasng them! In short, "Go look for something young, old, or sick as you can't catch me!". Sounds logical.

Pain teaches us to avoid things. Younger lambs don't have much option to avoid things that cause pain, so it seems to me that they might be more tolerant of pain. Just a theory and I can't prove it either way! Which wasn't the question anyway, was it?

 

[Gulli]

Everything is smaller on a younger lamb so less pain. Ears aren't as thick so less to punch through.
Haven't had time to get used to their balls so less of an emotional loss etc.

 

[Grem]

Thank you all for your replies. No single thought though. Personally, I prefer to tag very soon after birth as it saves errors later - we still have three unknown lambs as their original marks have now worn/washed off, but my boss says the tags are too heavy and cause young ears to flop. Nightmare of a job sorting them yesterday.

 

[Yale]

There could be something like synapses/neurons not fully developed so it is feasible that very young mammals in their first day or two don’t fully have the capability to feel pain.

 

[primmiemoo]

Thank you all for your replies. No single thought though. Personally, I prefer to tag very soon after birth as it saves errors later - we still have three unknown lambs as their original marks have now worn/washed off, but my boss says the tags are too heavy and cause young ears to flop. Nightmare of a job sorting them yesterday.

If the ears flop, surely the wrong sort of tags are being used? Too big for the job?

If the tagged lambs are showing pain or discomfort, eg, head flicking, stamping feet, or there's swelling, surely the tagging technique needs checking? Is the cartilage being pierced/torn? Is a nerve being pinched? It's easy to forget the make up of ears and put tags in the wrong position. Two years ago there was an outbreak of cauliflower ears, traced to inexperience of tagger. Tags had to be removed, ears allowed to heal, lambs numbered on both sides (to be sure), and new tags inserted in best positions.

Years ago, I'd put a pair of those little padlock poultry tags in and when the lambs ears were stronger, put in the official tags, but that was when we were writing info on sheep flag tags that were heavy. Seldom lost both padlock tags, and the management tags lasted because they could be positioned correctly in grown ears.

A jump on being tagged - without injury - is a response to the snap of the pliers and the tag locking, in my experience. On rare occasions adult sheep need retagging, I have to be ready for the jump as the tags and pliers snap even when the new tag goes through the existing piercing.

I have no piercings. I'd both jump and turn nasty.
Possibly...

 

[Guiggs]

I tag pure bred ewe lambs when I ring them at a couple of days old ish. That way I can keep an eye on their progress to aid my decision making for retaining purposes.
Anything else is tagged when I'm ready to take to market!

 

[DartmoorEwe]

I am sure I read about a study looking at blood cortisone levels (associated with pain) and there was a lower cortisone response to painful stimuli in new borns but it very quickly recovered to normal. If I can find it I'll post a link.

 

[Grem]

Thank you for all your replies - some interesting thoughts, esp about the ears being thinner and the lambs not moving so much.

 

[Nithsdale]

The easiest way to look at this, is this...




Would you rather be circumcised as a baby, or an adult?

 

[Northeastfarmer]

The easiest way to look at this, is this...




Would you rather be circumcised as a baby, or an adult?

I’m pretty sure they don’t circumcise you without pain relief....well I bloody hope not

 

[JD-Kid]

The easiest way to look at this, is this...




Would you rather be circumcised as a baby, or an adult?

must hurt like hell some babys still can't walk for months afterwards

 

[Nithsdale]

I’m pretty sure they don’t circumcise you without pain relief....well I bloody hope not

Aye but the skin will heal much quicker for the baby...

 

[Grem]

I’m pretty sure they don’t circumcise you without pain relief....well I bloody hope not

The Jews don't use anaesthetic, see jewishmedicalassociationuk.org