Some physiological changes in pregnant sheep and goats before, during and after surgical insertion of uterine catheters.

Corticosteroid concentrations in maternal plasma from pregnant sheep and goats increased during the preoperative starvation period, anaesthesia and surgery, and reached maximum values when the animals regained consciousness. During the operation the vaginal temperature fell 2-3 degrees C. Postoperatively, corticosteroid levels took two to four days, while glucose concentrations took five to seven days in sheep and 10-12 days in goats to return to prestarvation levels. Feed intakes returned to prestarvation levles three to four days after operation in sheep and five to seven days after operation in goats.