Changes in Blood Biochemical and Mineral Parameters of Ouled Djellal Ewes under the Semi-Arid Environment of North–Eastern Algeria during Late Pregnancy and Early Post-Partum

Mineral and biochemical profiles have been used to predict pre-partum and post-partum metabolic problems and to assess the nutritional status of small ruminants. The concentrations of these metabolites are known to vary according to many factors such as breed, sex, age, nutrition, physiological and environmental conditions. Therefore, current study was conducted to determine changes in some biochemical and mineral indicators of metabolism and to search for their correlations during peri-partum period in Ouled Djellal ewes, reared under semi-intensive farming system in semi-arid environment. The study was conducted on thirteen clinically healthy ewes aged between one and three years and weighed 53,4 ± 1,85 kg, reared at Samaei Mohamed pilot farm (wilaya of Oum El Bouaghi located in North-Eastern Algeria). Blood samples were collected once in the morning before feeding during late pregnancy (4 Weeks Pre-Partum=4WPrP) and early lactation (1 Week Post-Partum=1WPP). Plasma glucose (Glu), cholesterol (CHO), Urea, creatinine (Creat), total protein (TP), albumin (Alb), Ca, P, Na and Cl were measured. During 1WPP, Creat, TP, Alb, CHO, Ca, P, Na and Cl levels decreased significantly (p<0,001, p<0,000, p<0,000, p<0,000, p<0,000, p<0,000, p<0,000, and p<0,008, respectively), while Glu and Urea levels increased (p< 0,05 and p<0,000 respectively), compared to those measured during 4WPrP. Negative significant correlations (p< 0.05) of Urea with Ca and P levels were found during pre-partum period and between Na and CHO (p< 0.05) at the first week post-partum. In conclusion, the results of this study will help breeders and veterinarians to a better control of Ouled Djellal ewe’s reproduction, and to understand the metabolic adaptation of this breed to semi-arid environment.