Examination of blood cortisol and some parameters at parturition and on 30th day postpartum in single and twin - pregnant ewes

Abstract

Lambs gain about 70 % of their birth weight in the last 6 weeks of pregnancy. In this period, many physiological events occur in ewe metabolism. The increase in the number of fetuses also affects these events. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of single and twin pregnancy on serum cortisol, glucose, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol, total protein, total cholesterol, calcium and phosphorus levels at birth and postpartum days. This study was conducted on 2 - 3 aged single (n = 11) and twin (n = 8) pregnant Anatolian Merino ewes which housed the Department of Animal Breeding and Animal Production of Konya Bahri Dağdaş International Agricultural Research Institute in Turkey. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein immediately after parturition and on 30th day postpartum in single and twin pregnant ewes. According to the data obtained, the differences between single and twin pregnant ewes of serum cortisol and phosphorus values at parturition were found statistically significant. The differences between parturition and 30th day postpartum were found statistically significant for the cortisol and glucose values in single pregnant ewes. The differences between the parturition and 30th day postpartum for glucose, triglyceride and phosphorus values were found statistically significant in twin pregnant ewes. In conclusion, it can be said that cortisol and some blood parameters in ewes are affected by pregnancy and the number of fetuses.