Year 2026, Volume 72 Issue 1
| Year : | 2026 |
| Volume : | 72 |
| Issue : | 1 |
| Authors : | Tahreer M. AL-THUWAINI, Alaa H. KADHIM, Fadhil A. RHADI |
| Title : | INVESTIGATION OF BIRTH TYPE IN AWASSI SHEEP AND THEIR CORRELATION TO REPRODUCTIVE HORMONES AND OXIDATIVE/ANTIOXIDANT INDICES |
| Abstract : | Many factors affect reproductive performance, including litter size, season, nutrition, management, oxidative stress, and genetics. Therefore, this study investigated the relationship between number of lambs and oxidative status in Awassi ewes. The present study was conducted between July and September 2022 and included 130 sexually mature, healthy Awassi ewes (57 singletons and 73 twins). The ewes weighed 45-50 kg and were between 3 and 4 years old. The blood samples (5 mL) were collected from the sheep's jugular vein in the one day of birth and continued until the weaning period and were centrifuged for 15 minutes at 2,000 g to separate the serum, which was subsequently stored at -20°C for hormone analysis. Hormonal analysis was performed for measurement of estradiol, progesterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione (GSH). Statistical analysis were employing the general linear model and correlation was analyzed using the Pearson correlation coefficient, and significance was set at P≤0.05. The results revealed that Awassi ewes at birth and weaning showed a significant higher levels (P≤0.05) in estrogen (1.37±0.10 and 1.25±0.16 (pg/ml)), progesterone (0.68±0.07 (ng/ml)), FSH (1.13±0.11 and 0.96±0.12 (ng/ml)), LH (0.89±0.12 (ng/ml)), SOD (0.61±0.06 (nmol/L)), glutathione (0.56±0.07 (nmol/L)), and MDA (0.63±0.12 (nmol/L)) in twins birth type. The highest correlations between reproductive hormones and oxidative/antioxidant indices were observed at birth and weaning in Awassi ewes. In conclusion, Awassi ewes exhibit a significant difference in concentrations of reproductive hormones and antioxidant levels at birth and weaning. |
| For citation : | Al-Thuwaini, T.M., Kadhim, A.H, Rhadi, F.A. (2026). Investigation of birth type in awassi sheep and their correlation to reproductive hormones and oxidative/antioxidant indices. Agriculture and Forestry, 72 (1): 221-230. https://doi:10.17707/AgricultForest.72.1.13 |
| Keywords : | Antioxidant, Awassi ewes, litter size, pregnancy, reproductive hormones, weaning |
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