A study of some physiological attributes of Karadi ewes reared under hot conditions

Abstract EN

This work was carried out at the Animal Production Project, Faculty of Agricultural and Forestry, University of Duhok, during the hottest months of the year (1st June to 31st August, 2012), where twenty adult Karadi ewes were randomly divided into two equal groups.

The 1st was kept under cooling condition and the 2 nd was left under natural conditions.

Rectal temperature was carried out with the aid of a digital clinical thermometer and respiratory rate was determined by counting flank movements and recorded as frequencies per mint.

Also, Blood sample (10 ml) was collected from jugular vein at biweekly intervals throughout the experiment, to determine some hematological parameter (Hemoglobin, Packed cell volume and N/L ratio and as well as serum total protein, albumin, globulin, cholesterol, AST, ALT, T3 and T4).

Results revealed that ewes maintained under heat stress had a significantly (P<0.01) higher rectal temperature (40.21 ± 0.15 vs.

38.09 ±0.10 ºC), respiratory rate (50.65 ± 1.42 vs.

36.88 ± 0.83) (breath / mint) and are lighter (50.22 ± 0.88 Kg vs.

52.66 ± 0.68 Kg) than control ewes.

Also, ewes kept under heat stress had significantly (P<0.01) lower values of PCV, Hb , protein, albumin, cholesterol and higher N/L ratio, T3 ,T4, and AST as compared with ewes kept under cooling conditions.