Haematological and physiological parameters of West African dwarf goats as influenced by coat variation and sex

Abstract

Twenty four West African Dwarf (WAD) goats of both sexes (12 bucks and 12 does) raised under intensive system and weighing between 5 and 11 kg with different coat colours (Black, Brown, Tan and White) were used for this study to evaluate the effects of sex and coat colour on their haematological and physiological parameters in south-western Nigeria. Blood sampling was done weekly for 8 weeks. Parameters examined were Red Blood Cell count (RBC), White Blood Cell count (WBC), Haematocrit (HCT), Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin (MCH), Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Concentration (MCHC), Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV), Haemoglobin Concentration (Hb) Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW), Pulse Rate (PR), Respiratory Rate (RR), Rectal Temperature (RT) and Skin Temperature (ST). Results showed that coat colour had significant effects (p<0.05) on MCV, MCH and RDW. Goats with White coat colour had the highest MCV and MCH values of 14.8±0.25 Fl and 5.3±0.06 pg respectively. Goats with Tan coat colour had the highest RDW value (25.1±0.30%). West African dwarf does had higher (p<0.05) WBC, RBC, Hb, HCT and MCHC than WAD bucks. There was significant (p<0.05) interaction of coat colour and sex on WBC, MCV, and MCHC. West African dwarf does with White coat colour had the highest WBC count and MCHC of 27.9±2.27 x109/L and 385.5±6.16 g/L respectively, while the WAD does with Tan coat colour had the highest MCV value (15.2±0.31 Fl). West African dwarf bucks with White coat colour had the highest MCV while WAD bucks with Tan coat colour had the highest WBC count and MCHC. Sex had significant (p<0.05) effect on the PR in goats. Does had higher PR (95.0±0.65 bm-1) than bucks (92.48±0.499 bm-1). However, there were no significant (p>0.05) influence of sex on RR, RT and ST. Variation in coat colour had significant (p<0.05) effect on PR and RR, while RT and ST were similar (p>0.05) among goats of different coat colours. White coat coloured goats recorded the highest value of PR (97.2±0.10 bm-1) which was similar (p>0.05) to the observed value for goats with Black coat colour. Goats with Black coat colour had higher (p<0.05) RR (36.7±0.43 fm-1) compared to goats with other coat colours. Interaction of coat colour and sex was significant (p<0.05) on PR and RR in WAD goats. White does had the highest PR (100.79±1.631bm-1), while Black bucks had the highest RR (37.43±0.541 fm-1). The study concluded that sex and coat colour had great influence on some haematological and physiological indices in West African dwarf goats managed intensively.

Keywords: Coat Colour, Haematological and Physiological Parameters, Sex, WAD Goat