author(s)
Elham A Husain, Abd Alkareem A Hobi, Hasan SA Jawad and Alsaab HKJ

abstract
The objective of this study was to survey the serum ceruloplasmin enzyme, serum copper and hepatic copper in male and female Karadi sheep. The study was carried out on 80 Karadi sheep at the Slaughterhouse in the province of Sulaimani - Iraq for a period from November of 2009 to June 2010. Results indicated that the overall mean serum ceruloplasmin, serum copper and hepatic copper level were 112.81±2.10 mg/dl, 112.40±0.71 ugdl and 124.37±0.93 ugdl, respectively. Ceruloplasmin concentration was slightly higher among the female (114.36±20.63 mg/L) than that in male (111.28 ± 17.01 mg/dl); serum concentration was higher (p<0.05) for female (122.39±7.13 ug/dl) than those for males (102.42±5.70 ug/dl). Serum activity of ALT was higher (p<0.05) in the female (36.97±3.66 U/L) compared to the males (25.42±2.04 U/L). It can be concluded that the sex, overall, has no significant effects on Karadi sheep in Sulaimani province (north of Iraq) regarding blood ceruloplasmin, copper level of serum and liver.