Feed was withheld from all lambs for 18 h before
stressor treatment. On the morning of each replication
(two lambs from each treatment), a sample of blood
was withdrawn and designated as the 0-h sample.
Then, the RISEB-lambs were removed from their
stanchions, and 2% lidocaine, at a dose of .2 mu5 kg
BW, was injected into the epidural catheter. Epidural
anesthesia was used to block spinal nerves, thereby
rendering the lambs insensitive to pain and inhibiting
muscle contraction in specific parts of the body (Hall
and Clark, 1983). The level of epidural anesthesia
was monitored throughout the stressor treatment by
skin prick. Additional doses of lidocaine were given as
needed to inhibit contraction in all skeletal muscles of
the hindsaddle