Journal of Environmental Biology

Effect of shearing and environmental conditions on physiological mechanisms in ewes

 

G. Piccione*¹, L. Lutri², S. Casella¹, V. Ferrantelli³ and P. Pennisi⁴

¹Dipartimento di Scienze Sperimentali e Biotecnologie Applicate - Facolta di Medicina

Veterinaria - Universit? di Messina - 98168, Messina - Italy

²Istituto Sperimentale Zootecnico per la Sicilia, Palermo - 90100, Italy

³Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale? della Sicilia, Palermo - 90100, Italy

⁴Dipartimento di Scienze Agronomiche, Agrochimiche e delle Produzioni Animali. Sezione di Scienze delle

Produzioni Animali. Universit? degli Studi di Catania - 95100, Italy

(Received: June 08, 2007; Revised received: September 18, 2007; Accepted: October 13, 2007)

Abstract: The aim of this study was to establish the influence of shearing in dairy sheep during summer season. Several physiological and haematological parameters, which are closely related to thermoregulatory potential, have been investigated with the purpose to assess shearing influence on thermoregulation. Forty? dairy sheep, clinically healthy and well-fed, were used. They were divided into two groups of 20 subjects each. Twenty sheep were let unshorn as a control group (Group A), and twenty sheep were shorn (Group B). On each subject of group A and Group B, rectal temperature, respiration and heart rates were recorded and blood samples were collected in order to asses the following parameters: red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, haematocrit and haemoglobin. All measurements taken on day 0 (before shearing), were repeated after 1, 15, 30, 45 and 60 days after shearing. The statistical analysis, the ANOVA followed by the Bonferroni?s test, showed statistical differences between two groups for rectal temperature (F_(1,90)=5.57, p<0.0001), respiratory rate (F_(1,90)=18.40, p<0.0001) and white blood cells (F_(1,190)=7.61, p<0.0001). These results suggest that the shearing induce adaptative responses in the organism.

Key words: Fleece, Shearing, physiological and haematological parameters, Ewes

Copyright ? 2008 Triveni Enterprises. All rights reserved. No part of the Journal can be reproduced in any form without prior permission. Responsibility regarding the authenticity of the data, and the acceptability of the conclusions enforced or derived, rest completely with the author(s).