Effect of dystocia on serum haptoglobin in Awassi ewes

Serum haptoglobin concentration was determined in 102 Iraqi Awassi ewes. Blood samples were collected from 82 ewes before the correction of dystocia, 10 ewes with eutocia 2 to 4 h after parturition and 10 nonpregnant ewes during the seasonal anestrus phase. The mean serum haptoglobin concentration was significantly higher (P < 0.01) in ewes with dystocia than in ewes with normal births and in the nonpregnant ewes. No significant difference was found between serum haptoglobin concentrations of ewes with ringwomb and ewes with dystocia due to other causes. There was a significant elevation (P < 0.01) of serum haptoglobin in cases treated 24 h after labor compared with those treated during the first 24 h. Significant (P < 0.05) differences were found between serum haptoglobin concentrations in ewes treated surgically and those treated manually.