Vahid Mohammadi - Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
Ehsan Anassori - Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
Shoja Jafari - West Azerbaijan Jihad-Agriculture Organization, Makouei Sheep Breeding Station, Maku, Iran

Makouei sheep is one of the famous breeds in Iran which is reared in Azerbaijan province for their meat, milk and wool. Fifty clinically healthy Makouei ewes were selected to study the variations in energy-related blood metabolites during peri-partum period. Blood was collected from Jugular vein from each sheep on day ۷ before the expected lambing time, day of parturition and also day ۷ postpartum to determine total protein, albumin, urea, cholesterol, glucose, triglyceride, β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) and non- esterified fatty acid (NEFA) levels. Serum total protein and albumin concentrations were gradually decreased during pre-partum period and reached the lowest level after parturition (p > ۰.۰۵). Blood urea concentration was significantly decreased to the lowest level at parturition (p < ۰.۰۵). Serum cholesterol and triglycerides were gradually decreased and reached low levels after lambing (p < ۰.۰۵). Serum glucose concentrations were significantly lower at pre-partum period than post-partum (p < ۰.۰۵). The serum NEFA and BHB concentrations were higher before lambing and thereafter decreased (p < ۰.۰۵). Current findings regarding the blood parameters may expand our knowledge for the diagnosis and prognosis of reproductive and metabolic diseases in Makouei sheep during these phases.

Beta-hydroxybutyrate, Blood metabolites, Makouei sheep, Non- esterified fatty acids