microRNAs in the prefrontal cortex of Merino sheep (PRJCA047972)
There is growing evidence that microRNAs could be useful biomarkers of brain function and experience in humans, however, there has been limited work evaluating their use for assessing experience, and thus the welfare of animals. In the study that these samples were used, microRNAs were evaluated as indicators of changes in the welfare state of sheep. We induced differences in the experience and coping capacity of 34 female Merino sheep in response to a psychological challenge of isolation at the start and end of a period of three dietary manipulation treatments. The first group was fed to maintain liveweight constant during the three periods; the second group was fed to increase liveweight in period 1, keep liveweight constant in period 2, and decrease liveweight in period 3; and the third group was fed to decrease liveweight in period 1, keep liveweight constant in period 2, and increase liveweight in period 3.  Next generation sequencing identified seven mature miRNAs that were differently expressed between the sheep that were fed below their maintenance requirements and those that were fed at maintenance.