Biochemical changes and pregnancy toxemia in pregnant and lactating Harri ewes under arid lands conditions Zarkouny Samir Z. El1,2,*, Elwakeel Eman A.2 Department of Arid Land Agriculture, Faculty of Meteorology, Environment and Arid Land Agriculture, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia 1Department of Arid Land Agriculture, Faculty of Meteorology, Environment and Arid Land Agriculture, King Abdul-Aziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia 2Department of Animal and Fish Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Alexandria University, Alexandria, 21545, Egypt *Corresponding author's e-mail: elzarkouny@yahoo.com
Online published on 15 October, 2019. Abstract This study was conducted to evaluate serum biochemical constituents and antioxidant enzymes activities in non-pregnant (open), pregnant and lactating ewes exposed to nutritional climatic stress conditions. Forty pure Harri ewes at 3–6 years of age and weighing 49.6 ± 1.22 kg were synchronized for estrus and bred to pregnancy. Ewes were kept indoors in a semi open shelter andweregiven concentrate mix as the onlydaily ration duringpregnancy and lactation. Pregnant eweshad higher (P<0.05) total protein than lactating that had higher albumin and lower globulin concentrations than open and pregnant ewes. Pregnant ewes had lower glucose, triglycerides and cholesterol than open and lactating ewes. Pregnant ewes had higher Na and lower K than open and lactating ewes. During last 3 months of pregnancy antioxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase, nitric oxide and malondialdehyde rose to maximum and declined after parturition. It can be concluded that pregnant ewes often endure dramatic alteration in their metabolism due to heightened fetal development demanding more nutritional intervention to avoid pregnancy toxemia and improve productivity. Top Keywords Antioxidant enzymes, Glucose, Pregnancy toxemia, Sheep. Top |