Selected blood biochemical indicators in Barky ewes during late pregnancy, post-partum and early lactation

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Nutrition & Clinical Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo university

2 Department of Ruminant diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Science, Bmo, Czech Republic.

Abstract

  The study was conducted to investigate the changes in the concentrations of selected blood metabolites related to protein and energy metabolism as well as plasma enzymes activity in Barky ewes during late pregnancy, post- partum and early lactation. The experiment was carried out on 10 clinically healthy Barky ewes fed on ration composed of concentrate mixture, berseem hay and horse bean straw according to their nutrient requirements during late pregnancy, post-partum and early lactation. Jugular blood samples were withdrawn from all ewes during the last 4 weeks of gestation, 2nd week post-partum and 4th week of lactation. The plasma concentrations of total protein, albumin, globulin, glucose, cholesterol, urea and triacylglycerol as well as plasma enzymes activity of Aspartate Amino Transferase (AST), γ - Glutamyl Transferase (GMT), Creatine kinase (CK), Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) and blood Glutathione Peroxidase (GSH-PX) were determined. Results revealed that significant effect of time (p<0.05) was identified on plasma concentrations of total protein, albumin, urea and triacylglycerol. In addition, there were significant (p<0.05) changes in plasma enzymes activity of AST and blood GSH-PX during different. reproductive stages of ewes. In conclusion gestation and lactation periods affect the protein and energy metabolism of ewes, with requirement for energy varying in the different stages of reproduction.

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Veterinary Medical Journal (Giza)
Volume 59, Issue 4
October 2011
Pages 165-174

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