The effect of cattle breeds on haematological parameters and possible association with trypanotolerance

Abstract

In order to investigate the trypanotolerant indices in cattle breeds, haematological parameters were determine in 12 N’Dama (ND), 13 Muturu (MUT), 11 White Fulani Cross (WFX) and 14 White Fulani cattle (WF). The packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb) and red blood cell (RBC) values of all the breeds of cattle were within the normal reference interval. MUT had significantly higher PCV, Hb and RBC values than the WFX. No significant difference (p>0.05) in the PCV, Hb and RBC was observed among the other breeds. No significant difference (p>0.05) in mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) was observed in all the breeds of cattle. However, ND had significantly higher (p<0.05) mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) compared to MUT, WFX and WF. The trypanotolerant cattle (ND and MUT) had significantly higher (p<0.05) Hb and MCHC than the more trypanosusceptible cattle (WFX and WF). There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the white blood cell (WBC) count among the breeds of cattle. However, WF cattle had significantly lower (p<0.05) lymphocyte count than WFX, MUT and ND. ND cattle had significantly higher (p<0.05) eosinophil count than WF, MUT and WFX. The results suggest that MCHC, lymphocytes and eosinophils are considered as possible trypanotolerant indices in the trypanotolerant breeds of cattle.