Studies on Certain Serum Metabolites in non Pregnant and Pregnant Bannur Ewes

A study was undertaken with the objective of making an insight in to the changes with respect to the level of certain metabolites in non pregnant and pregnant Bannur ewes which are indicative of their nutritional status and physiological well being. Eighteen Bannur ewes maintained under identical managemental conditions in a semi-intensive rearing farm which were of two to four years of age are categorized in to three groups, comprising of six animals in each group, such as non pregnant (Group I), early pregnant (Group II, at 20 to 35 days of pregnancy) and late pregnant (Group III, at 105 to 120 days of pregnancy) ewes based upon ultrasound imaging technique. The metabolites such as serum levels of β-hydroxybutyrate, glucose, total protein, blood urea nitrogen and lipid profile components were determined at 0, 7 and 15^th day of sample collection. The biochemical parameters did not vary significantly (P>0.05) between the groups except for the glucose levels which were significantly (P<0.05) lower in Group III compared to Group I and Group II. It was concluded that, all the parameters studied in Bannur breed of ewes during non pregnancy, early pregnancy and late pregnancy were within the normal reference range described for sheep and it was suggestive that none of the ewes in the present study suffered from any kind of metabolic disorders.