Cortisol (nmol/L)
Pre-partum
Post-partum
ANOVA
F=
P
Total
87.96 ± 44.15
131.39 ± 56.68***
1.566
n.s.
Comisana crossbred
84.12 ± 40.73
131.91 ± 58.98***
3.615
<0.001
Pinzerita crossbred
91.81 ± 47.57
130.87 ± 54.39*
2.650
<0.02
Single birth
90.93 ± 47.25
125.20 ± 41.68**
1.285
n.s.
Twin birth
86.86 ± 41.86
144.64 ± 79.77***
3.631
<0.001
Compared to pre-partum values, both ewes with single birth (P < 0.01) and those with twin birth (P < 0.001) had higher cortisol levels in post-partum (Table 10.2). One-way RM-ANOVA showed a significant effect of only twin birth (F = 3.631; P < 0.001) on changes in cortisol levels. Cortisol levels were significantly higher in post-partum with male birth (P < 0.001) or male and female births (P < 0.05) than the pre-partum values (Table 10.2). However, there were no significant effects of gender on cortisol changes.
Table 10.2
Lamb gender comparisons of serum cortisol levels (mean ± SD) in pre- and post-partum Comisana and Pinzirita crossbred ewes
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