aref kord; Arash Kheradmand; Alireza Rocky; Majid Khaldari
Volume 23, Issue 4 , January 2022, , Pages 515-524
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the changes of some blood biochemical parameters in Lori-Bakhtiari ewes during different months of pregnancy and the influence of fetus numbers on these parameters. For this purpose, 20 ewes of Lori Bakhtiari breed were selected and mated with fertile rams. One ...
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The aim of this study was to investigate the changes of some blood biochemical parameters in Lori-Bakhtiari ewes during different months of pregnancy and the influence of fetus numbers on these parameters. For this purpose, 20 ewes of Lori Bakhtiari breed were selected and mated with fertile rams. One month before mating and in the first to fifth months of pregnancy blood samples were collected from ewes and biochemical and enzymatic parameters including calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, urea, creatinine, total bilirubin, AST, ALP and GGT were measured. The concentration of calcium and AST activity were constant at the times of the study, but they increased in the last month of pregnancy (P<0.05). Magnesium concentration increased in second month of pregnancy (P<0.05) and phosphorus concentration was decreased during pregnancy compared to the month before mating (P<0.05). Creatinine concentration decreased in the second and third months of pregnancy compared to other months of pregnancy (P<0.05). Total bilirubin and urea concentrations increased during fourth month and the second half of pregnancy, respectively (P<0.05). GGT activity was almost stable during study period but decreased in the fourth month of pregnancy (P<0.05), and ALP enzyme activity showed increasing trend during pregnancy period (P<0.05). The mean concentration of the studied parameters in singleton ewes was not significantly different from twins (P <0.05). Based on the results of this study, blood biochemical changes in Lori Bakhtiari ewes can be used to assess their physiological status during pregnancy.