Effects of Sedentary and Transhumant Raising Systems on Live Weight, Blood Metabolites, Stress Indicators, and Reproductive Performance in Karayaka Sheep

Abstract

This study evaluated how sedentary (SR) vs. transhumant (TR) raising systems affect live weight (LW), selected blood metabolites, physiological stress parameters, and reproductive performance of Karayaka sheep grazing in lowland (winter) and high-mountain (spring/plateau) areas. A total of 72 ewes (36 young and 36 adult) were selected for physiological (n = 36 per system) and blood measures (n = 18 equal young and adult animals per system). Reproductive performance was recorded for all animals in the herds (SR: n = 216; TR: n = 330). The LW change of the TR sheep throughout the year was higher (p < 0.001) than that of the SR animals. The rectal temperature (RT; SR 38.8 +/- 0.07 degrees C vs. TR 38.4 +/- 0.07 degrees C; p < 0.001), respiratory rate (RR; SR 49.9 +/- 2.40 breaths/min vs. TR 35.9 +/- 0.97 breaths/min, p < 0.001), and heart rate (HR; SR 100.6 +/- 2.20 beats/min vs. TR 97.2 +/- 1.44 beats/min, p < 0.001) were in the SR ewes higher than those of the TR ewes. The SR and TR sheep showed similar blood plasma cortisol (Cort), triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4) concentrations, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and creatine kinase (CK) values. The plasma levels of total protein (TP), globulin, urea, total cholesterol (Chol), and glucose (Glu) were higher in the SR sheep than in the TR animals. The pregnancy rate (PR; 93.52% vs. 96.97%, p < 0.054) and lambing rate (LR; 86.96% vs. 96.97%, p < 0.001) of the SR sheep were lower than those of the TR animals. The findings suggest that, under the studied conditions, the TR system was associated with better welfare indicators, live-weight change, and reproductive performance than the SR system.