{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,17]],"date-time":"2026-09-17T05:02:28Z","timestamp":1789621348017,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":59,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"9","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,10]],"date-time":"2026-09-10T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1788998400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"NextGenerationEU","award":["581-UNIOS-26"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["581-UNIOS-26"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Metabolites"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background\/Objectives: Determination of blood metabolic profile and hemogram are particularly valuable in animals kept in extensive and semi-intensive farming systems, as within those systems, it is not possible to properly monitor animals. This research investigated changes in the hemogram indicators and blood metabolic profile of Dalmatian Pramenka ewes by comparing different lactation stage and litter size. Methods: This study investigated changes in the hemogram indicators and blood metabolic profile of 33 Dalmatian Pramenka ewes during lactation as influenced by the lactation stage (taken on the 40th, 70th and 100th day of lactation) and the litter size (1 or 2 lambs in litter). Referring to the litter size, 11 ewes had twins, and 22 ewes had one lamb in litter. Results: This study confirmed the significant influence of stage of lactation on the blood metabolic profile (minerals: Ca, P-inorganic, Mg, Fe, metabolites: urea, glucose, triglycerides, ALB, GLOB and A\/G ratio, and ALT enzyme) and most of the hemogram indicators (RBC and WBC content of HGB and HCT and portion of monocytes) in the blood of lactating ewes. The influence of litter size on the hemogram and blood metabolic profile was insignificant, yet its only statistically significant effect was determined for urea concentrations in the blood of ewes. Conclusions: When planning quality monitoring procedures of a herd, a blood metabolic profile and hemogram of the animals should be implemented as routine herd-monitoring tools for indigenous sheep breeds raised under extensive production systems.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/metabo16090668","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,10]],"date-time":"2026-09-10T15:54:19Z","timestamp":1789055659000},"page":"668","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Blood Metabolic Profile and Hemogram Across Lactation in an Extensively Managed Flock of Dalmatian Pramenka Ewes: Influence of Stage of Lactation and Litter Size"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4922-705X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Zvonko","family":"Antunovi\u0107","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department for Animal Production and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek, University of J. J. Strossmayer, V. Preloga 1, 31000 Osijek, Croatia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"},{"role":"conceptualization","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"methodology","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"formal-analysis","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"writing-original-draft","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"writing-review-editing","vocabulary":"credit"}]},{"given":"Lucija","family":"Broni\u0107","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department for Animal Production and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek, University of J. J. Strossmayer, V. Preloga 1, 31000 Osijek, Croatia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"},{"role":"conceptualization","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"investigation","vocabulary":"credit"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4078-6864","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"\u017deljka","family":"Klir \u0160alavardi\u0107","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department for Animal Production and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek, University of J. J. Strossmayer, V. Preloga 1, 31000 Osijek, Croatia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"},{"role":"formal-analysis","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"software","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"writing-review-editing","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"writing-original-draft","vocabulary":"credit"}]},{"given":"Mislav","family":"\u0110idara","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department for Animal Production and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek, University of J. J. Strossmayer, V. Preloga 1, 31000 Osijek, Croatia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"},{"role":"formal-analysis","vocabulary":"credit"}]},{"given":"Luka","family":"\u0160ramek","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department for Animal Production and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek, University of J. J. Strossmayer, V. Preloga 1, 31000 Osijek, Croatia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"},{"role":"formal-analysis","vocabulary":"credit"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9763-3522","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Josip","family":"Novoselec","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department for Animal Production and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek, University of J. J. Strossmayer, V. Preloga 1, 31000 Osijek, Croatia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"},{"role":"formal-analysis","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"writing-original-draft","vocabulary":"credit"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,10]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"49","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cvfa.2022.10.004","article-title":"Metabolic Profiling in Ruminant Diagnostics","volume":"39","year":"2023","journal-title":"Vet. Clin. N. Am. Food Anim. Pract."},{"key":"ref_2","first-page":"401","article-title":"Blood profiles as indicators of nutritional status","volume":"12","year":"2020","journal-title":"Adv. Dairy Technol."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Loi, F., Pilo, G., Franzoni, G., Re, R., Fusi, F., Bertocchi, L., Santucci, U., Lorenzi, V., Rolesu, S., and Nicolussi, P. (2021). Welfare assessment: Correspondence analysis of welfare score and hematological and biochemical profiles of dairy cows in Sardinia, Italy. Animals, 11.","DOI":"10.3390\/ani11030854"},{"key":"ref_4","first-page":"28","article-title":"Interpreting blood haematology\/biochemistry in cattle and sheep in the field","volume":"22","author":"Macrae","year":"2017","journal-title":"Liv. Sci."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e06R01","DOI":"10.5424\/sjar\/2020183-14627","article-title":"Relevance of the study of metabolic profiles in sheep and goat flock. Present and future: A review","volume":"18","author":"Benedito","year":"2020","journal-title":"Span. J. Agric. Res."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"56","DOI":"10.18047\/poljo.27.2.7","article-title":"The effect of lactation stage on the hematological and serum related biochemical parameters of the Travnik ewes","volume":"27","author":"Novoselec","year":"2021","journal-title":"Poljoprivreda"},{"key":"ref_7","first-page":"53","article-title":"Effect of lactation on hemato-biochemical and minerals constituents in small ruminant","volume":"6","author":"Salem","year":"2017","journal-title":"Int. J. Vet. Sci."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"309","DOI":"10.24099\/vet.arhiv.170404","article-title":"Seasonal variations of some hematochemical parameters in Holstein bovine under the same livestock conditions","volume":"88","author":"Cerutti","year":"2018","journal-title":"Vet. Arh."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Tao, L., He, X., Wang, X., Di, R., and Chu, M. (2021). Litter Size of Sheep (Ovis aries): Inbreeding Depression and Homozygous Regions. Genes, 12.","DOI":"10.3390\/genes12010109"},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"82","DOI":"10.7831\/ras.10.0_82","article-title":"The Reproductive Traits of Sheep and Their Influencing Factors","volume":"10","author":"Ajafar","year":"2022","journal-title":"Rev. Agric. Sci."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"68","DOI":"10.30539\/ijvm.v47i1.1504","article-title":"Hematological parameters as indicators for litter size and pregnancy stage in Awassi ewes","volume":"47","author":"Khazaal","year":"2023","journal-title":"Iraqi J. Vet. Med."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"625","DOI":"10.12982\/VIS.2022.047","article-title":"Influence of litter size on the hematologic profile of Awassi ewes during gestation and lactation","volume":"20","author":"Kadhem","year":"2022","journal-title":"Vet. Integr. Sci."},{"key":"ref_13","first-page":"541","article-title":"Effect of twinship on selected hematological and biochemical parameters in late pregnant ewes","volume":"77","author":"Yenlimez","year":"2022","journal-title":"Med. Weter."},{"key":"ref_14","first-page":"71","article-title":"Effect of litter size on the milk production, blood metabolite profiles and endocrine status of ewes lambing in January and April","volume":"53","author":"Rhind","year":"1991","journal-title":"Anim. Prod."},{"key":"ref_15","unstructured":"CAAF (2026). Annual Report for 2025: Sheep, Goat and Small Animal Breeding, CAAF."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"169","DOI":"10.1016\/j.smallrumres.2005.04.017","article-title":"Sheep and goat preference for and nutritional value of Mediterranean maquis shrubs","volume":"64","author":"Pfister","year":"2006","journal-title":"Small Rumin. Res."},{"key":"ref_17","first-page":"263","article-title":"Exterior characteristics of Dalmatian Pramenka sheep","volume":"63","year":"2009","journal-title":"Sto\u010darstvo"},{"key":"ref_18","unstructured":"HSC (2008). Annual Report for 2007. Year: Sheep and Goats Breeding, HSC."},{"key":"ref_19","unstructured":"AOAC (2006). Official Methods of Analysis of AOAC International, AOAC International. [18th ed.]. Revision 1."},{"key":"ref_20","first-page":"3583","article-title":"Methods for dietary fiber, neutral detergent fiber, and nonstarch polysaccharides in relation to animal nutrition","volume":"74","author":"Robertson","year":"2001","journal-title":"J. Dairy Sci."},{"key":"ref_21","unstructured":"Boden, E. (1991). Body condition scoring of sheep. Sheep and Goat Practice, Bailliere Tindall."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Baumgartner, W., and Wittek, T. (2017). Klinische Prop\u00e4deutik der Haus-und Heimtiere, Enke. [9th ed.].","DOI":"10.1055\/b-005-143669"},{"key":"ref_23","unstructured":"Latimer, K.S., Maheffey, E.A., and Prasse, K.W. (2003). Duncan and Prasse\u2019s Veterinary Labaratory Medicine: Clinical Pathology, Blackwell Pub. [4th ed.]."},{"key":"ref_24","unstructured":"Kaneko, J.J., Harvey, J.W., and Bruss, M.L. (2008). Clinical Biochemistry of Domestic Animals, Elsevier Academic Press. [6th ed.]."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"O\u010dena\u0161, P., Baloga, M., Valko-Rokytovska, M., and Iva\u0161kova, S. (2025). Determination of Biochemical and Metabolomic Characteristics of Sheep Blood Serum and Their Application in Clinical Practice. Life, 15.","DOI":"10.3390\/life15071141"},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"603","DOI":"10.24099\/vet.arhiv.1329","article-title":"Blood metabolic profile and acid base status of lactating Travnik ewes in an extensive production system","volume":"91","author":"Novoselec","year":"2021","journal-title":"Vet. Arh."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"293","DOI":"10.1016\/S0749-0720(15)30107-9","article-title":"Pregnancy Toxemia of Ewes, Does, and Beef Cows","volume":"16","author":"Rook","year":"2000","journal-title":"Vet. Clin. N. Am. Food Anim. Pract."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1174","DOI":"10.1590\/S0100-736X2013001000002","article-title":"Biochemical, electrolytic and hormonal findings in goats affected with pregnancy toxemia","volume":"33","author":"Souto","year":"2013","journal-title":"Pesqui. Veterin\u00e1ria Bras."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"37","DOI":"10.5937\/AASer2049037C","article-title":"Reference values of blood parameters in rams of the Bosnian Pramenka breed","volume":"25","year":"2020","journal-title":"Acta Agric. Serb."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"487","DOI":"10.24099\/vet.arhiv.160314","article-title":"Establishing reference intervals for haematological and biochemical blood variables in Lipka pramenka sheep","volume":"87","author":"Vojta","year":"2017","journal-title":"Vet. Arh."},{"key":"ref_31","first-page":"25","article-title":"Hematological and biochemical reference intervals in Dalmatian pramenka sheep estimated from reduced sample size by bootstrap resampling","volume":"81","author":"Vojta","year":"2011","journal-title":"Vet. Arh."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"569","DOI":"10.46419\/vs.55.5.4","article-title":"Reference values for haematology and biochemistry parameters in the Pelagonian Pramenka sheep breed","volume":"55","author":"Dodovski","year":"2024","journal-title":"Vet. Stanica"},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"177","DOI":"10.1016\/j.smallrumres.2011.07.010","article-title":"Effects of shade and flaxseed supplementation on the welfare of lactating ewes under high ambient temperatures","volume":"102","author":"Caroprese","year":"2012","journal-title":"Small Rum. Res."},{"key":"ref_34","first-page":"243","article-title":"Blood metabolic profile and milk quality of ewe","volume":"67","author":"Novoselec","year":"2017","journal-title":"Mljekarstvo"},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"85","DOI":"10.11118\/actaun201967010085","article-title":"The Effect of the Lactation Stage on Milk Yield, Composition and Renneting Parameters of Milk in Sheep Reared Under Intensive Nutrition","volume":"67","year":"2019","journal-title":"Acta Univ. Agric. Silvic. Mendel. Brun."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1641","DOI":"10.1071\/AN14214","article-title":"Effects of crossbreeding on milk production and composition in dairy sheep under organic management","volume":"54","author":"Hernandez","year":"2014","journal-title":"Anim. Prod. Sci."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"269","DOI":"10.1016\/S0921-4488(01)00174-2","article-title":"Changes in some blood constituents of Barki ewes during pregnancy and lactation under semiarid conditions","volume":"40","author":"Assad","year":"2001","journal-title":"Small Rum. Res."},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"293","DOI":"10.21608\/ejap.2012.94320","article-title":"Changes in some hematological and serum biochemical parameters during the first week after lambing in six consecutive parities in some Egyptian sheep breeds","volume":"49","author":"Anwar","year":"2012","journal-title":"Egypt. J. Anim. Prod."},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"88","DOI":"10.1016\/j.smallrumres.2010.04.015","article-title":"Haematological test in sheep health management","volume":"92","author":"Polizopoulous","year":"2010","journal-title":"Small Rum. Res."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"579","DOI":"10.1016\/0093-691X(84)90057-8","article-title":"Effect of litter size on blood haematocrit and liveweight in Boordola Merion ewes during pregnancy and the post-partum period","volume":"22","author":"Owens","year":"1984","journal-title":"Theriogenology"},{"key":"ref_41","unstructured":"Carcangiu, V., Vacca, G.M., Mura, M.C., Dettori, M.L., Pazzola, M., Fioro, M., and Bini, P.P. (2007, January 15\u201319). Blood parameters during lactation and dry period in Sarda sheep breed. Proceedings of the XV Congress of Mediterranean Federation for Health and Production of Ruminants, Kusadasi, Turkey."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"337","DOI":"10.5194\/aab-69-337-2026","article-title":"Blood metabolic profile and complete blood count of sheep during late pregnancy and lactation","volume":"69","author":"Djidara","year":"2026","journal-title":"Arch. Anim. Breed."},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"217","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1439-0396.2007.00695.x","article-title":"Bone metabolism of milk goats and sheep during 2nd pregnancy and lactation in comparison to first lactation","volume":"91","author":"Liesegang","year":"2007","journal-title":"J. Anim. Phys. Anim. Nut."},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Abdelsattar, M.M., Vargas-Bello-P\u00e9rez, E., Zhuang, Y., Fu, Y., and Zhang, N. (2022). Effects of Age and Dietary Factors on the Blood Beta-Hydroxybutyric Acid, Metabolites, Immunoglobulins, and Hormones of Goats. Front. Vet. Sci., 8.","DOI":"10.3389\/fvets.2021.793427"},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"277","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1439-0442.2006.00832.x","article-title":"Effects of age and reproductive stage on certain serum biochemical parameters of Chios sheep under Greek rearing conditions","volume":"53","author":"Roubies","year":"2006","journal-title":"J. Vet. Med. A"},{"key":"ref_46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Sejian, V., Bhatta, R., Gaughan, I., Malik, P., Naqvi, S., and Lal, R. (2017). Alteration in rumen functions and diet digestibility during heat stress in sheep. Sheep Production Adapting to Climate Change, Springer.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-981-10-4714-5"},{"key":"ref_47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"783","DOI":"10.1042\/bj2700783","article-title":"Insulin resistance of hind-limb tissues in vivo in lactating sheep","volume":"270","author":"Vernon","year":"1990","journal-title":"Biochem. J."},{"key":"ref_48","unstructured":"Cronj\u00e9, P.B. (2000). Regulation of Nutrient Partitioning During Lactation: Homeostasis and Homeorhesis Revisited. Ruminant Physiology: Digestion, Metabolism, Growth and Reproduction, CAB International."},{"key":"ref_49","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"101908","DOI":"10.1016\/j.animal.2026.101908","article-title":"Review: Role of dietary carbohydrates in the metabolic and hormonal control of nutrient partitioning in lactating dairy sheep and dairy goats","volume":"20","author":"Lunesu","year":"2026","journal-title":"Animal"},{"key":"ref_50","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"223","DOI":"10.1016\/j.livsci.2013.05.024","article-title":"Effects of urea supplementation on nutrient digestibility, nitrogen utilisation and rumen fermentation in sheep fed diets containing dates","volume":"155","author":"Khattab","year":"2013","journal-title":"Liv. Sci."},{"key":"ref_51","first-page":"691","article-title":"The effect of age and sex on selected haematological and biochemical parameters in Dalmatian Pramenka lambs","volume":"92","author":"Vince","year":"2022","journal-title":"Vet. Arh."},{"key":"ref_52","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"94","DOI":"10.18047\/poljo.32.1.11","article-title":"Blood Metabolic Profile of Dairy Goats During the First Three Months of Lactation","volume":"32","author":"Novoselec","year":"2026","journal-title":"Poljoprivreda"},{"key":"ref_53","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"499","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.S0022-0302(98)75602-4","article-title":"Effect of Dietary Energy and Protein Concentration on the Concentration of Milk Urea Nitrogen in Dairy Ewes","volume":"81","author":"Cannas","year":"1998","journal-title":"J. Dairy Sci."},{"key":"ref_54","first-page":"144","article-title":"Serum biochemical alternations of sheep and goats affected with anaemia","volume":"9","author":"Prabhakar","year":"2024","journal-title":"Int. J. Vet. Sci. Anim. Husb."},{"key":"ref_55","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"591","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1439-0531.2011.01925.x","article-title":"Electrophoretic serum protein fraction profile during the different physiological phases in Comisana ewes","volume":"47","author":"Piccione","year":"2012","journal-title":"Reprod. Domest. Anim."},{"key":"ref_56","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"01010","DOI":"10.1051\/bioconf\/20224901010","article-title":"Comparison of albumin\/globulin (A\/G) ratio between pregnant and lactation of thin-tail sheep","volume":"49","author":"Fitriani","year":"2022","journal-title":"BIO Web Conf."},{"key":"ref_57","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"194","DOI":"10.5958\/0973-9718.2017.00060.5","article-title":"Functional liver stres sin dairy sheep","volume":"23","year":"2017","journal-title":"Indian J. Small Rumin."},{"key":"ref_58","first-page":"1","article-title":"Relationships Between Contents of Biochemical Metabolites in Blood and Milk in Dairy Cows During Transition and Mid Lactation","volume":"17","year":"2019","journal-title":"Intern. J. Appl. Res. Vet. Med."},{"key":"ref_59","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"32","DOI":"10.1016\/j.domaniend.2014.07.001","article-title":"The effects of parity, litter size, physiological state, and milking frequency on the metabolic profile of Lacaune dairy ewes","volume":"50","author":"Tesniere","year":"2015","journal-title":"Domest. Anim. Endocrinol."}],"container-title":["Metabolites"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2218-1989\/16\/9\/668\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,17]],"date-time":"2026-09-17T04:16:07Z","timestamp":1789618567000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2218-1989\/16\/9\/668"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,10]]},"references-count":59,"journal-issue":{"issue":"9","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9]]}},"alternative-id":["metabo16090668"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/metabo16090668","relation":{},"ISSN":["2218-1989"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2218-1989","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,10]]}}}