Blood hematology, metabolites and hormones in newborn sheep and goat from birth to weaning

The neonatal period represents a transition phase from the sheltered intrauterine to the exposed extra uterine environment. Changes in hematological profile, hormones and blood metabolites were investigated in Ossimi lambs and Damascus kids. Results indicated that, with increasing age of lamb the number of white blood cells and red blood cells increased, with higher content of hemoglobin and hematocrit at 30 days after birth. Sex and age influenced the RBC, WBC values of lambs and kids. Kid’s values were higher than their in lambs during experimental period. The levels of T3, IGF-1 and Leptin were significantly higher in the first month than those of the other three months. IGF-1 level had a significant increase in lambs compared to kids. Levels of cholesterol were high during the first month either in lambs or in kids. In young kids, cholesterol levels had decrease in females than in males at birth. The same trend was observed at weaning while; the reverse trend was recorded during 90 days after birth. The concentrations of the triglyceride in the blood plasma of the lambs and kids have been increased with the advanced age. The concentrations of the total proteins and albumin in the blood plasma of the lambs and kids have been increased with the advanced age. Female lambs and kids had higher plasma Immunoglobulin’s (IgG) values than their males at 30 and120 days. In young kids, IgG values were higher than in young lambs at birth. The reverse trend was observed at weaning.