Hematological and biochemical parameters of Dorper ewes

Abstract

In order to establish hematological and biochemical Dorper sheep values and evaluate the influence of sex and age in these determinations, 72 animals were assigned to three experimental groups according to age: Group 1 (G1) consisting of animals up to 12 months of age (n=28), Group 2 (G2) composed of animals from 13 to 36 months (n=37) and Group 3 (G3) for animals from 37 to 60 months (n=7). The animals were still divided in another two groups according to gender: Group 4 (G4) - females (n=57) and Group 5 (G5) - males (n=15). Evaluating the results obtained for hematological and biochemical examinations it was found that the mean values of RBC (13.4 ± 2.5x106/mL), hemoglobin (12.6 ± 1.3 g/dL), packed cell volume (37.5 ± 3.7%), total leukocytes (7116.0 ± 1967.0/mL) and segmented neutrophils (4168.0 ± 1501.0/mL) were higher in the animals of G1, as well as urea, GGT and ALP (52.0 ± 17.0 mg/dL, 93.0 ± 19.0 IU/L, 257.0 ± 125.0 IU/L, respectively). Comparing the gender, it was found that the values of total leukocytes (7576.0 ± 2082.0/mL), segmented neutrophils (4296.0 ± 1510.0/mL) and lymphocytes (2428.0 ± 1084.0/mL) were greater in males (G5). The values of creatinine (1.3 ± 0.4 mg/dL), serum total protein (6.3 ± 0.9 g/dL) and globulins (3.7 ± 1.0 g/dL) were higher in females (G4). Statistical analysis of the results allowed to determine reference values for hematological and biochemical constituents of Dorper sheep breed, and concluded that there were variations in these parameters influenced by gender and different age groups.