A comparison of plasma growth hormone, insulin, free fatty acid and glucose concentrations during oestrus and early pregnancy in Clun Forest ewe lambs and ewes

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to compare plasma growth hormone, insulin, glucose, and free fatty acid concentrations in Clun Forest ewe lambs (n=6) and ewes (n=5) during oestrus (Day 0) and early pregnancy. Overall mean growth hormone concentrations were similar in both groups. However, overall mean insulin concentrations were higher during oestrus and early pregnancy in ewes (ranges of 0.15±0.04–0.97±0.12 μg/l) compared with ewe lambs (range of 0.06±0–0.78±0.21 μg/l) (P0.05). These results indicate that hormone (insulin) and metabolite (free fatty acid and glucose) profiles differ during oestrus and early pregnancy in ewe lambs and ewes maintained under identical conditions.