Pakistan Veterinary Journal (Jul 2009)
HAEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS IN EXOTIC COWS DURING GESTATION AND LACTATION UNDER SUBTROPICAL CONDITIONS
Abstract
Seventy Holstein-Friesian and Jersey cows of different ages kept at the Livestock Experiment Station, Bhunikey (Pattoki), district Kasur, Pakistan were used for this study. These cows were divided into seven groups having 10 animals in each group. Group numbers 1 to 7 were named as pregnant heifers, pregnant lactating cows, non-pregnant dry cows, non-pregnant heifers, parturient cows, pregnant dry cows and non-pregnant lactating cows, respectively. Blood samples from all the animals were collected and haematological values were recorded, using routine haematological procedures. The highest Hb concentration (11.32 ± 0.32 gm/dl) was recorded in group-4, while the lowest (9.24 ± 0.35 gm/dl) was observed in group-7. The highest RBCs count and PCV (6.18 ± 0.47 x 106/µl and 35.51 ± 1.51%) were recorded in group-4 and the lowest (4.55 ± 0.26 x 106/µl and 29.23 ± 1.09%) values were observed in group-6. The highest MCV, MCH and MCHC (65.26 ± 1.96 fl, 23.50 ± 1.31 pg and 35.75 ± 0.99 gm/dl) were noted in group-5 and the lowest (55.16 ± 1.72 fl, 16.77 ± 1.14 pg and 30.09 ± 1.15 gm/dl) were noted in group-2. The highest ESR (7.60 ± 1.15 mm/24 hours) was recorded in group-6 and the lowest (4.89 ± 0.40 mm/24 hours) values were observed in group-5. The highest WBCs count (9.43 ± 1.15 x 103/µl) was observed in group-1 and the lowest (6.35 ± 0.72 x 103/µl) was recorded in group-5. Amongst DLC, highest (P<0.05) lymphocyte count (69.10 ± 2.55%) was observed in group-4, while lowest count (56.70 ± 5.16%) was in group-5. The differences between monocyte, neutrophil, eosinophil and basophil counts in all the groups were statistically non-significant.
