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The current work aimed to test the fit hypothesis; does the animal reproductive status have an impact on the hormonal milieu of the animals and consequently its body metabolic status? In this study, we assessed the changes in circulating hormones, key metabolites and blood parameters taking place during different stages of the estrous cycle and pregnancy in Egyptian Barki ewes. An ultrasonographic examination as well as blood sampling were conducted, before the morning feeding, on clinically healthy cyclic non-pregnant ( n = 7) and pregnant ( n = 9) Barki ewes at early- (d 60 ± 5 post breeding [PB]), mid- (d 90 ± 5 PB) and late- (d 135 ± 5 PB) stage of pregnancy. The results showed marked changes in certain biochemical parameters of sheep blood serum during pregnancy as compared to luteal and/or follicular stages. Pregnancy was associated with significant higher levels of progesterone, glutathione peroxidase, malondialdehyde, nitric oxide and HDL. Samples from cyclic animals showed higher levels of insulin, T3, T4, superoxide dismutase and glucose. Nevertheless, leptin, triglycerides, cholesterol, VLDL, LDL and blood parameters did not vary between pregnant and non-pregnant animals. From these results we can conclude that the reproductive state influence on reproductive (progesterone) and metabolic (T3, T4 and insulin) hormonal levels, lipid peroxidation and body metabolism, which could have long-lasting consequences and therefore should be taken into consideration during the early prediction and/or diagnosis of metabolic diseases related to disturbance in energy balance and/or oxidative stress in Barki ewes.

The aim of the present study was to monitor fetal growth in relation to gestational stage to generate formulae which could be used to estimate fetal age in goats. Eight miniature Shiba goats (Capra hircus) were examined weekly by transrectal and transabdominal ultrasound scanning during the gestation period between Day 21 and 126 days of gestation. For accurate judgment, all fetometric parameters were measured at least three times per one examination for each animal. Quantification of the growth of the fetus allowed the development of a number of predictors of fetal age. Low correlations were associated with measurement of the chest diameter (R(2)=0.869), trunk diameter (R(2)=0.8969), tibia length (R(2)=0.8662) and placentome diameter (R(2)=0.8999). Moderate correlation was assessed by calculation of the length of six successive lumbar vertebrae (R(2)=0.9296), femur length (R(2)=0.9278), heart axis length (R(2)=0.9382 and 0.9589; for the longitudinal and transverse axis, respectively), occipitonasal length (R(2)=0.9527), umbilical cord diameter (R(2)=0.9119) and orbit diameter (R(2)=0.9239). A high correlation was estimated in investigating the length of six successive thoracic vertebrae (R(2)=0.9674), braincase diameter (R(2)=0.9831) and crown rump length (R(2)=0.9848). In conclusion, the intrauterine fetal biometry estimation through ultrasound might be useful to predict the accurate gestational age in miniature goats.