Haemato-biochemical and blood metabolite monitoring in pregnant does for pregnancy toxaemia

Abstract

Pregnancy toxaemia in small ruminants occur as a result of negative energy balance consequent to enhanced requirement for glucose by the developing foetuses in the last trimester (4 to 6 weeks) of gestation. The present study was carried out in the pregnant Tellicherry does maintained at Instructional Livestock Farm Complex, Madhavaram Milk Colony, Chennai – 51, and their body condition score, qualitative urinalysis using urine dip stick, haemato-biochemical parameters and serum metabolites were monitored periodically at monthly interval starting at 60 day of gestation until 30 days post kidding for the presence of subclinical form of pregnancy toxaemia. Early indicators of subclinical form of pregnancy toxaemia in does include any deviation in body condition score (≤ 2.0), presence of ketone body in urine and blood β-hyroxybutyric acid concentration (≥ 0.8 mmol/lt). However in the present study the pregnant animals were maintained in a positive energy balance which reflected as haemato-biochemical parameters to be in par with that of the control animals and within the reference range.