COMPARISON OF HAEMATOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS IN LATE-GESTATION SINGLE-BEARING AND TWIN-BEARING ILE DE FRANCE EWES

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of fetal number on selected haematological and biochemical blood parameters in late-gestation Ile de France ewes. A total of 40 clinically healthy ewes aged 2–5 years, with an average body weight of 68.0 ± 3.58 kg, were included in the experiment. All ewes were between days 110 and 130 of gestation. Based on ultrasonographic examination, the animals were divided into two groups: ewes carrying a single fetus (n = 20) and ewes carrying twin fetuses (n = 20). The independent samples Student's t-test for comparison of group means was used.

Biochemical analysis revealed significant differences between the experimental groups. Ewes carrying a single fetus exhibited significantly higher concentrations of total protein, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), glucose, creatinine, calcium, and iron (P ≤ 0.001). In addition, higher white blood cell, lymphocyte, and granulocyte counts were observed in this group. Conversely, ewes carrying twin fetuses showed significantly higher concentrations of globulin, triglycerides, cholesterol, β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), phosphorus, haemoglobin, and platelet counts (P ≤ 0.001).

Twin pregnancy markedly affected several metabolic and haematological indicators. Elevated concentrations of BHB and NEFA in twin-bearing ewes indicate increased mobilisation of body fat reserves and the development of a negative energy balance during late gestation.