Haemato-biochemical and endocrine profiling of north western Himalayan Gaddi sheep during various physiological/reproductive phases

The study was aimed to provide baseline data regarding haemato-biochemical and endocrine profiling of Gaddi sheep found in north western Himalayan region of Himachal Pradesh, India. Each random sample was collected from 45 Gaddi sheep reared in government sheep breeding farm Tal, Hamirpur, India, during various reproductive phases viz. anestrus, breeding season and post partum period. Haematology revealed significantly higher (P<0.05) RBC as well as haematocrit values in pregnant animals (n=23) during breeding season than during other reproductive phases. The number of platelets were significantly lower (P<0.05) and MCH, MCHC values were statistically higher (P<0.05) during postpartum period than during other reproductive phases. Blood biochemistry revealed significantly higher (P<0.05) concentrations of plasma cholesterol (83.98±3.68 mg/dl), plasma calcium (71.06±1.52 mg/l), magnesium (18.21±0.53 mg/l), potassium (5.10±0.13 mEq/l) and significantly lower (P<0.05) concentrations of plasma total protein (5.75±0.31 gm/dl), globulin (3.04±0.29 gm/dl) and sodium (138.83±1.83 mEq/l) during postpartum period in comparison to other reproductive phases. Endocrine profile revealed significantly higher (P<0.05) serum estrogen (60.97±1.24 pg/ml) and T4 (6.0±0.27 µg/ml) concentrations during postpartum phase. Similarly, significantly higher (P<0.05) serum progesterone (5.16±0.76 ng/ml) as well as TSH (0.70±0.14 µg/ml) concentration were recorded during pregnancy. From the study it can be concluded that physiological status significantly affects the blood metabolic and endocrine profile in Gaddi sheep.