Evaluation of Hematological Parameters and Trace Elements in the Blood of Sheep

Abstract

The ewes were kept at three farms. Blood samples were divided according to factors of Altitude (550 m, 800 m, 950 m), Season (spring, autumn), Breed (Charolais, Merinolandschaf, Sumavian sheep), and System (ecological, non-ecological). The lowest haemoglobin concentration was detected at altitude 550 m (66.95 g.L-1) and the highest at the altitude of 950 m (115.54 g.L-1) (P<0.001). The highest content of haemoglobin was recorded in Sumavian sheep (115.54 g.L-1) (P<0.001) and in the ecological system (115.65 vs. 85.80 g.L-1, P<0.001; 0.39 vs. 0.36 L.L-1, P<0.05). The highest number of leucocytes was at the altitude of 950 m (9.44 G. L-1) (P<0.001) and in the spring season (8.97 G. L-1 vs. 6.47 G. L-1), and in the ecological system (9.57 G. L-1 vs. 7.13 G. L-1) (P<0.001). The highest percentages of eosinophiles were found at the altitude of 550 m (9.26) (P<0.05) and in the Merinolandschaf breed (9.89) (P<0.01). The highest copper concentration was found at the altitude 550 m and the lowest at the altitude 800 m (17.07 μmol.l-1 vs. 13.58 μmol.l-1) (P<0.001). Zinc levels at altitudes 800 m and 950 m were higher than at altitude 550 m (17.53 μmol.l-1, 17.93 μmol.l-1 vs. 14.77 μmol.l-1) (P<0.001). Zinc concentration was lower in the spring then autumn (15.08 μmol.l-1 vs. 17.00 μmol.l-1) (P<0.01). The ecological system contained lower levels of copper (14.49 μmol.l-1 vs. 16.14 μmol.l-1) (P<0.01) and higher levels of zinc (17.81 μmol.l-1 vs. 15.22 μmol.l-1) (P<0.01).

Keywords

• copper
• hematology
• sheep
• zinc