Monitoring of nutritional and physiological changes in grazing Corriedale sheep using metabolic profiles

Abstract

Changes of metabolic parameters in 30 Corriedale sheep from mating to weaning time were recorded. The ewes and their lambs (10) were kept on natural pastures and divided in 2 groups prepartum (dry ewes; pregnant ewes) and 3 groups postpartum (dry ewes; lost lamb; with lamb). Periodically the ewes and their lambs were weighed and taken blood samples. In winter body weight decreased as well as total protein, albumin, gloucose and calcium in serum, there was an increase in urea in serum. A strong relationship between albumin in serum and loss of bodyweight was found. Physiological state affected blood parameters: prepartum thera was a higher phosphorus level in pregnant ewes, the effect was canceled out postpartum; during lactation decreased tolal protein and globulin. Significant differences. In blood parameters between lambs and ewes were found: total protein, albumin, globulin, calcium and phosphorus. Blood parameters were influenced by physiological and nutricional effects, metabolic profiles had a good sensitivity to detect these changes.