Effect of physiological status and parity on metabolic and trace element profile of crossbred Rambouillet sheep of Himalayan region

The study was designed to evaluate the effect of physiological status and parity on metabolic profile in crossbred Rambouillet ewes of the Himalayan region. The study was conducted on 20 ewes divided into two groups, primiparous (PP) and multiparous (MP), with 10 ewes in each group. Blood samples were collected on 4- and 1-week pre-lambing and 1- and 4-week post-lambing to measure metabolic parameters and minerals. The glucose ( p < 0.01), total plasma protein (TPP) ( p < 0.05), albumin ( p < 0.05), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) ( p < 0.05), cholesterol ( p < 0.05), triglyceride ( p < 0.01), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ( p < 0.05), calcium (Ca) ( p < 0.01), phosphorus (Pi) ( p < 0.05), magnesium (Mg) ( p < 0.01), copper (Cu) ( p < 0.05), and zinc (Zn) ( p < 0.01) levels revealed significant change along the time with the concentration decreasing from 3-week pre-lambing to immediate post-lambing; thereafter, levels increased steadily. Significant increase ( p < 0.01) was observed in non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), iron (Fe) ( p < 0.05), and bilirubin ( p < 0.05) concentrations along the sampling time. No group difference was observed in any of the parameters; however, parity and time interaction was observed in glucose, NEFA, GGT, Ca, and Pi. While NEFA levels were significantly high in pre-lambing in PP ewes compared to MP ewes, the post-lambing levels were significantly high in MP ewes. Pre-lambing levels of GGT were at par between the two groups; however, post-lambing levels were significantly high in MP ewes. Glucose, Ca, and Pi were low during pre-lambing in PP ewes and post-lambing in MP ewes. The result showed that ewes show a significant change in metabolic profile and trace minerals during late gestation and immediate postpartum; however, these changes were more pronounced during late gestation in primiparous and post-lambing in multiparous.