Body Condition Score Versus Metabolites in Marwari Sheep under Cold Stress

Background: The present study investigates the association between plasma metabolites and body condition score (BCS) in Marwari sheep under cold stress. BCS is considered as an easy, rapid and non-invasive assessment method for determining an animal’s state of health. Animals modify their body’s metabolic state to adapt and combat cold ambient temperature conditions. Methods: The present study was conducted on apparently healthy Marwari sheep by screening 180 animals from marginal farmers in two different ambiences from in and around Bikaner district of Rajasthan. The study included 6 months to 6 years age group animals which were divided in to six different categories as 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0 and 4.5. The technique outlined by Jefferies (1961) and Russel (1968) was used to determine the body condition score of the sheep. Blood samples were collected during moderate and extreme cold ambiences in the morning hours from the slaughter house and health status was monitored by recording rectal temperature, respiratory rate and body condition score. Estimated plasma metabolites were glucose, total proteins, urea, cholesterol and creatinine. Result: The plasma glucose concentration increased significantly in extreme cold environment compared to a moderate environment (increasing by 9.21%), Whereas total plasma protein concentrations decreased significantly under cold conditions by 7.66%. Similarly, plasma urea and cholesterol levels increased significantly (8.81% and 13.81% increase, respectively). The results suggest that a particular BCS is not sufficient to represent the health state of sheep. However, animals with a BCS of 2.5 to 3.5 demonstrated strong physiological adaptability to their surroundings, indicating that Marwari sheep exposed to cold may have an ideal BCS.