BLOOD PLASMA PROTEINS LEVEL OF BARKI EWES DURING PREGNANCY AND SUCKLING PERIOD AS AFFECTED BY WATERING REGIME | ||
| Journal of Animal and Poultry Production | ||
| Article 14, Volume 28, Issue 1, January 2003, Pages 249-260 PDF (3.25 M) | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/jappmu.2003.242193 | ||
| Authors | ||
| H. A. Gawish,; M. T. A. Badawy | ||
| Animal Physiology and Poultry Department, Animal and Poultry Production division, Desert research Center, EI-Mataryia, Cairo | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Plasma total proteins and albumin were estimated in 40 adult Barki ewes (20 pregnant and 20 non-pregnant). Each group was divided into two equal subgroups (10 each); the 1st subgroup was watered daily while the second was watered once every 3 days. In the pregnant ewes, estimations were made during 2nd, 3rd and 5th months representing early, mid and late stages of pregnancy. After parturition, eight ewes were excluded; four pregnant ewes due to the mortality of their lambs and another four dry ewes from control group. Thus, the experiment continued during suckling period (from the 2nd to the s" week post partum) on the reminder thirty-two Barkf ewes as 16 suckling and 16 non-suckling on the same sequence as previously mentioned. Results revealed that total protein and globulin were higher (P< 0.01) in pregnant ewes as compared with non-preqnant ones, while albumin level slightly increased in pregnant ewes with a difference that was insignificant. Albumin/Globulin ratio did not differ significantly between pregnant (0.90) and non-pregnant ewes (0.93). Dehydration during different pregnancy stages did not affect TP levels (7.67 vs. 7.64 g/dl for watered and deprived ewes, respectively) but resulted in a significant (P<0.05) decrease in GL levels (4.07 vs. 3.93 g/dl for watered and deprived ewes, respectively). Albumin level slightly increased in deprived ewes (3.72 g/dl) than watered ones (3.61 g/dl). Accordingly, AlG ratio was higher (P<0.05) in deprived ewes. The plasma total proteins slightly (P<0.05) decreased in suckling ewes as compared with non- suckling ones (7.66 vs. 7.91 g/dl, respectively). The albumin was significantly (P< 0.01) higher in lactating (3.99 g/dl) than in dry ones (3.83 g/dl) and subsequently resulted in higher AlG ratio. Dehydration during the five weeks of suckling period reduced (P<0.05) TP and GL levels while AL levels were the same in watered and deprived groups. Lack of water during the early pregnancy stage seemed to be of residual effect on suckling as judged by the low milk production (421 mllh/day) since the second week of suckling. Watering sheep twice a week under harsh conditions is recommended without adverse effects on their productivity | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Ewes; Plasma proteins; Deprivation; Pregnancy; Suckling | ||
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