Analysis of Estrogen, Testosterone, and Cholesterol Interactions in Kurdi Sheep and Goats

The objective of this study was to assess the association of sex hormones (testosterone and estrogen) with lipid profiles (high density lipoprotein cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol) in male and female sheep and goats. In the winter of January 2025, a total of 80 animals (20 males and 20 females from both species) were sampled for blood in the Sulaymaniyah Governorate, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. and serum hormones and cholesterol was analysed biochemically by routine method. The experiments were conducted as a completely randomized factorial design (CRD), and data were analyzed by analysis of variance and Pearson's correlation analysis. Differences were found to be sex- and species-specific. Testosterone and estrogen were significantly higher in males and females, respectively. Females, particularly female goats, exhibited higher HDL cholesterol while bucks had the highest LDL cholesterol. Pearson correlation analysis revealed a strong inverse correlation between testosterone and estrogen (r = –0.98), a moderate positive correlation between testosterone and LDL (r = +0.50), and a moderate negative correlation between estrogen and LDL (r = –0.39). These results emphasized the potential biological cross-talk between reproductive hormones and lipid metabolism in small ruminants and suggested that the profile of blood lipids was influenced by hormones. The findings may provide better management of animal health and nutritional management in the livestock industry.