Abstract

Investigations were conducted to determine the influence of physiological stage and parity on some indicators of energy, nitrogen and mineral metabolisms in sheep Ouled Djellal living in the Algerian Southeast arid area. The study was carried out on 100 clinically healthy multiparous and primiparous ewes, aged 2 to 7 years. The animals were divided into three ewe groups: Pregnant (P), lactating (L), and empty (E). Biochemical analysis of blood samples concerned the determination of the values of 11 metabolites [glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, urea, total protein, albumin, calcium (Ca), phosphates (PO₄), sodium (Na), potassium (K), and magnesium (Mg)]. The results showed that pregnant ewes and multiparous ones have the lowest blood glucose levels and the highest proteinemia. However, the lowest total protein and albumin values were found in empty sheep. Cholesterol and triglyceride levels were the highest in lactating and primiparous ewes. In this study, the most important calcium levels were recorded in lactating ewes which showed the lowest magnesium levels. The pregnant ewes had the highest sodium levels and low phosphatemia. Potassium levels were comparable in all animals. Statistical analysis showed that the physiological stage has a significant influence (p < 0.05) on serum glucose, triglycerides, phosphorus and potassium levels and a highly significant effect (p < 0.001) on urea, and magnesium levels. No parity effect has been observed in our study.

Key words: Ouled Djellal ewes, physiological stage, parity, energy, nitrogen, mineral metabolisms.