Peculiarities of metabolism of rams obtained from crossing ewes of Kalmyk fat-tailed breed with dorper rams

Abstract

Abstract To increase the production of mutton, it is necessary to improve the genetic resources of sheep with precocity and high meat productivity. In this regard, the meat breed Dorper has gained its popularity, which has good meat qualities. The aim of this paper is to study the hematological parameters in the blood of the Kalmyk fat-tailed breed and hybrids (1/2 Kalmyk fat-tailed × ½ dorper). The work was carried out in LLC “Agrofirma Aduchi”, the Republic of Kalmykia in 2017. It is established that hybrids have a high content of hemoglobin, leukocytes, erythrocytes in the blood, which indicates the activation of redox processes in the body, and confirms their higher growth rates during cultivation. The content of total protein in the blood serum increased with age and was within the physiological norm. At 4 months of age, in the serum of lambs of group II, there was more total protein by 4.86 g/l (7.39%) (P > 0.95), and at 8 months of age – by 5.16 g/l (7.74%) (P > 0.99), than in peers of the control group. Crossbred calves were significantly superior to purebred animals also in blood serum, albumin, activity of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase. The activation of metabolic processes in the body of local sheep contributed to a high energy of growth in comparison with purebred peers of Kalmyk fat-tailed breed.