Effect of breed, sex, age and season on the haematological parameters of sheep in Bauchi state, Nigeria

Abstract

Haematology of sheep in Bauchi, Nigeria was assessed between February and September, 2017. Blood samples were collected from one hundred and twenty sheep comprising Yankasa, Balami, Ouda (32 per each breed) and West Africa Dwarf (24) at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Research Farm, Muda Lawal, Durum and Gwallaga markets. Most haematological parameters namely; white blood cells (WBC), red blood cells (RBC), haemoglobin concentration (HB), lymphocyte (LYM), neutrophil (P<0.05) were significantly affected by breed P<0.05 and P<0.001 respectively. The highest values for haemoglobin concentration (9.83±0.39 g/dl), red blood cells count (8.03±0.27 x103/μl) and platelets (65.93±1.49 x103/μl) were recorded in Balami. Similarly, Mean Corpuscular haemaglobin concentration (32.56±1.96g/dl) and Neutrophil (41.80±2.34%) were highest in West African Dwarf while Uda had the highest red cell distribution (17.74.±0.32 fL). Red blood cells (23.17±5.43 fL) and red blood cells distribution (17.30±0.25 fL) were higher in female sheep than in their male counterpart. Red blood cells (8.02±0.26fL), HB (9.68±0.26 g/dl) and LYM (69.99±2.06%), exhibited higher values in the dry season while the values of WBCs (33.18±6.56 103/μl), mean corpuscular haemaglobin (13.23±0.33g/dl) and neutrophil (38.81±2.41%) were higher in wet season. The values of mean corpuscular haemaglobin (13.26±0.30 Pg), mean corpuscular haemaglobin concentration (30.97±0.92 g/dl), platelets (66.30±1.09 103/μl) and LYM (24.84±6.40 x103/μl) were higher in adult than young. It was concluded that there were breed, sex, age and seasonal differences in haematological parameters of the sheep breeds studied. The blood parameters needed to be monitored frequently and appropriately controlled to ensure stability and adequate health and nutritional status of sheep.