Some behavioral and physiological changes in pregnant goats and sheep during adaptation to laboratory conditions (1976)

Pearson, R. A., Mellor, D. J.

Abstract

Tame sheep and goats have more normal serum concentrations of cortisol than untame animals. They also do not show elevations in heart rates and plasma cortisol concentrations when they are handled. The adjustment to the stress associated with experimental conditions is best buffered by the presence of familiar conspecifics.