Author(s):

G Aynalem, L Kibeb and M Gezahegne

Abstract: This study was done to determine the impact of age and altitude on some biochemical parameters in apparent healthy local breed sheep at Shebedino district Sidama zone of Ethiopia. Total 400 sheep aging 1 -3 and 3-6 years old are used. A cross sectional study was conducted from September 2009 to June 2010 in sheep in Shebedino district Sidama zone in order to obtain base line information concerning the normal serum biochemical parameters, to identify the influences of age and altitude on serum biochemical parameters in apparently healthy local breed sheep. Biochemical parameters of local breed’s sheep were determined consisting of 400 apparently healthy indigenous sheep breed in Shebedino district with different age groups (1-3 years and 3-6 years aged) from two different altitudes (high and midland). The study showed that only urea was a significant difference (P<0.05) between the two age groups in the study area but the rest of biochemical parameters such as ALT, AST, ALP, Protein, Glucose, Na⁺¹, K⁺¹ and Creatinine were not significant difference (P>0.05). For the two different altitudes effects (highland and midland) in serum biochemical parameters only ALP and Na⁺¹ were highly significant associated (P<0.05) whereas the level of K⁺¹ was significant (P<0.05). Therefore, this study has indicated serum biochemical values that could serve as baseline information for comparison in conditions of nutrient deficiency, physiological and health status of sheep kept under native husbandry system in Sidama zone of Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPRs) of Ethiopia.

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