Endocrine, energy, and lipid status during parturition and early lactation in indigenous goats native to the Algerian Sahara

Abstract

Background and Aim: Goats are widely distributed in southwest Algeria. The Saharan goat is perfectly adapted to the harsh conditions of arid areas, and it is characterized by resistance to long photoperiod and reduced metabolic needs, allowing the survival of its offspring by maintaining lactation. Several studies have demonstrated that parturition and lactation are critical periods that induce hormone, energy, and lipid status changes in mammals. However, the relationship between the blood biochemical parameters of parturition control and lactation functions in the Algerian Saharan goat has not been thoroughly documented. Therefore, this study assesses hormone and metabolite levels during parturition and early lactation in Saharan goats reared in arid areas. Materials and Methods: Experiments were performed on 14 multiparous female goats, and blood samples were collected during parturition, 4 days postpartum (D1PP-D4PP), and during the first 12 weeks of lactation (W1-W12) to analyze prolactin, cortisol, glucose (GLU), total proteins (TP), cholesterol (CHO), triglycerides (TGs), total lipids (TL), low-density lipoproteins (LDLs), high-density lipoproteins (HDLs), and very LDLs (VLDLs). Results: Statistical data analysis revealed a significant (p<0.05) increase in plasma prolactin concentrations at W1 after parturition, reaching maximum values at W3 and W9, and remained high until W12 of lactation. Plasma cortisol levels were high at parturition, reaching two peaks at W3 and W9, and then decreased at W5, W7, and W12 of lactation. No significant changes were found in serum GLU levels during the first 7 weeks of lactation compared with parturition day; then, the levels became significantly (p<0.05) lower at W8, W11, and W12 of lactation. Plasma TP increased significantly (p<0.05) at D3PP, W1, and W4, then decreased significantly (p<0.05) at W8. In addition, this decrease coincided with that of GLU production. Serum CHO, TGs, TL, LDLs, and VLDLs, were low at parturition and high at D4PP and during the first 3 months of lactation. Furthermore, HDL levels were low at D3PP, 1st, and 3rd months and high at the 2nd month of lactation. Conclusion: This study emphasized the impact of parturition and the 1st weeks of lactation on endocrine and metabolic changes in indigenous goats living in the Algerian Sahara Desert. These results can be used to monitor and improve farming management and understand physiological adaptive strategies, mainly lactation function sustainability, of this goat living in marginal zones.

Effects of Age and Dietary Factors on the Blood Beta-Hydroxybutyric Acid, Metabolites, Immunoglobulins, and Hormones of Goats

“…Blood GLU concentration decreased ( p < 0.001) with the increasing age of kids ( 25 ). Interestingly, blood GLU concentrations in Saharan goats were high 1 week after parturition and then significantly decreased at 8, 11, and 12 weeks of lactation due to the negative energy balance ( 26 ). Goat kids had significantly high blood GLU in the non-ruminant phase ( 10 ), in which colostrum and milk keep high contents of body GLU ( 27 ), while the decrease of milk and the developed rumen caused a reduction in blood GLU ( 28 , 29 ).…”

La ubre de la cabra: mecanismo de secreción láctea y síntesis de proteínas/grasas

“…Después del parto y con la expulsión de la placenta, caen los niveles de P4 iniciando la lactogénesis (Saipin et al, 2020). La fase inicial de la lactación se caracteriza por la regulación positiva de la producción de leche, la proliferación celular, y una disminución en el proceso de apoptosis en la glándula mamaria (Henna et al, 2021). Durante este proceso interviene el tejido endocrino adenohipofisario con la secreción de PRL en sus células lactotropas (Dee & Magee, 2018).…”