Influence of body condition score during late pregnancy on the variations of biochemical parameters and lamb stillbirths in Rembi ewes.

Souad Aiche, Fadhéla Smail, Mira Chikhaoui, Zahira Hariche, Si Ameur Abdelhadi

Tropical animal health and production 2023 Mar 23

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The transition period in ewes is associated with a lot of changes, such as metabolic disorder due to the mobilization of body reserves, behavior trouble, food intake, and some changes in body condition score (BCS). This knowledge led us to hypothesize the influence of BCS in ewes during late pregnancy on the variations of biochemical parameters and its influence on the survival of lambs. In order to assess how BCS affected changes in biochemical parameters and lamb stillbirth, blood samples were collected in heparin tubes from forty-nine randomly chosen ewes of the Rembi breed that were clinically healthy and at the end of their pregnancies. The results showed that glucose (Glu) and urea values were highly influenced by the BCS (P < 0.001), while cholesterol (CHL) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) were significantly influenced by the BCS (P 0.05). We also noted a highly significant decrease (P < 0.001) in the concentration of plasma of Glu and CHL in ewes with BCS = 4 compared to those with BCS = 2, recording a negative correlation (Glu and BCS, r = - 0.52; P = 0.0001) and (CHL and BCS, r = - 0.36; P = 0.009). In contrary, serum urea values were highly increased in ewes with BCS = 4 compared to those with BCS = 2 with a positive correlation (urea and BCS, r = 0.72; P = 0.001). On the other hand, the highest rate of lamb mortality was recorded in ewes with BCS = 4 compared to those who had a BCS = 2 with a significant difference (P < 0.05). During late pregnancy, poor body condition or obesity of ewes were predisposing factors for metabolic disease and lamb stillbirths, which can cause significant economic losses. © 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.

Citation

Souad Aiche, Fadhéla Smail, Mira Chikhaoui, Zahira Hariche, Si Ameur Abdelhadi. Influence of body condition score during late pregnancy on the variations of biochemical parameters and lamb stillbirths in Rembi ewes. Tropical animal health and production. 2023 Mar 23;55(2):128