CHANGES IN CERTAIN BLOOD AND MILK CONSTITUENTS DURING THE FIRST 5 WEEKS POST-LAMBING IN COARSE-WOOL EWES OF UPPER EGYPT

Document Type : Research article

Authors

Abstract

Ten coarse-wool Saidi ewes of Upper Egypt were utilized to study changes in certain blood and milk constituents and somatic cell counts during the first 5 weeks post-lambing. The overall means of milk protein, fat, lactose, chloride percentages were 5.61, 7.37, 4.45 and 0.08 respectively. Milk protein, fat and chloride percentages were higher during the 1st wk of lactation compared with other weeks. A significant positive correlation (r = + 0.5, P< 0.01) was obtained between milk protein and fat percentages. Lactose percentage reached the highest level during the 2nd wk (5.8%) and the lowest level during the 5th wk (3.5%, P < 0.05). The overall mean of somatic cell counts was 709.044 X 10 celi/ml. The high somatic cell count was observed at wk 5 of lactation and coincided with the lowest level of lactose. Significant changes (P< 0.05)' occurred in serum total protein, cholesterol, and urea V through lactation weeks. Serum globulin was highest (P< 0.07) during the 5th wk (4. 18 g/dl) which indicate increased rate of immunoglobulin biosynth sis. Changes in serum glucose and albumin were not significant. (Keywords: Milk, blood, lantation, sheep, ewe).