Articles | Volume 69, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/aab-69-337-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/aab-69-337-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Blood metabolic profile and complete blood count of sheep during late pregnancy and lactation
Zvonko Antunović
Department of Animal Production and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sceinces Osijek, University of J. J. Strossmayer in Osijek, V. Preloga 1, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
Josipa Kučan
Department of Animal Production and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sceinces Osijek, University of J. J. Strossmayer in Osijek, V. Preloga 1, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
Department of Animal Production and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sceinces Osijek, University of J. J. Strossmayer in Osijek, V. Preloga 1, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
Mislav Djidara
Department of Animal Production and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sceinces Osijek, University of J. J. Strossmayer in Osijek, V. Preloga 1, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
Josip Novoselec
Department of Animal Production and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sceinces Osijek, University of J. J. Strossmayer in Osijek, V. Preloga 1, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
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The research objective was to determine the blood mineral profile of French Alpine goats during the first third of the lactation period. The research was carried out on 20 5-year-old goats. Analysis of blood minerals and correlations between them can be useful in the determination of the animals’ health statuses during the first third of the lactation period as such information indicates the need for feed supplementation or the revision of the blood test reference range for specific goat breeds.
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This paper explains the influence of a sheep's lactation stage on the physical and chemical properties, hygienic quality and fatty acids in milk produced by Lacaune sheep kept in intensive breeding. A significant increase in the content of fat, protein, total dry matter and casein and a significant decrease in the content of lactose in the late stage of lactation were observed. Analysis of fatty acids in milk proved a decrease in C18:2n6, C18:3n6, n6 and n6/n3 ratios during lactation.
Zvonko Antunović, Željka Klir Šalavardić, Luka Zmaić, and Josip Novoselec
Arch. Anim. Breed., 68, 201–209, https://doi.org/10.5194/aab-68-201-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/aab-68-201-2025, 2025
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The research objective was to determine the blood mineral profile of French Alpine goats during the first third of the lactation period. The research was carried out on 20 5-year-old goats. Analysis of blood minerals and correlations between them can be useful in the determination of the animals’ health statuses during the first third of the lactation period as such information indicates the need for feed supplementation or the revision of the blood test reference range for specific goat breeds.
Zvonko Antunović, Boro Mioč, Željka Klir Šalavardić, Ivan Širić, Valentino Držaić, Nataša Mikulec, Adela Krivohlavek, and Josip Novoselec
Arch. Anim. Breed., 67, 37–49, https://doi.org/10.5194/aab-67-37-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/aab-67-37-2024, 2024
Short summary
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This paper explains the influence of a sheep's lactation stage on the physical and chemical properties, hygienic quality and fatty acids in milk produced by Lacaune sheep kept in intensive breeding. A significant increase in the content of fat, protein, total dry matter and casein and a significant decrease in the content of lactose in the late stage of lactation were observed. Analysis of fatty acids in milk proved a decrease in C18:2n6, C18:3n6, n6 and n6/n3 ratios during lactation.
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Short summary
The research was performed on 30 adult Lika Pramenka sheep, aiming to determine the influence of physiological stage on blood metabolic profile. Changes in blood indicators were expressed in heavily pregnant and lactating sheep. This research suggests that studies should include physiological status and feed quality in the determination of the metabolic profile of sheep's blood in order to obtain the best possible information on the herd.
The research was performed on 30 adult Lika Pramenka sheep, aiming to determine the influence of...