Abstract:
Concentrations of reducing sugar, volatile fatty acids, and ketone bodies were estimated in blood drawn from six normal Merino ewes before and during pregnancy and on their lambs from birth until 4 months of age. During pregnancy the concentrations of glucose and volatile fatty acids remained within the pre-pregnant range. A significant rise in blood ketones (P < 0.001) occurred with some values as high as 8.8mM (35 mg/100 ml) during the last month of pregnancy, indicating that the normal ewe is predisposed to ketosis during the pre-partum period. In the lambs the blood glucose range was 79-115 mg/100 ml for the first 2 weeks. There was a gradual fall until adult values (39