<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Hematological parameters in healthy goats show several variations in relation to breed, age, reproductive status, environmental factors and management conditions. Therefore, there is the need to investigate these factors and how they affect the animal’s hematology. The aims of this study were to establish hematological reference values of five Italian goat breeds at different age classes (1–2, 3–4 and over 5 years) considered in autumn and to evaluate the effects of some factors (breed, age and environmental conditions). Ninety-six dried female Aspromontana goats, 102 Girgentana goats, 99 Messinese goats, 96 Maltese goats and 108 Argentata dell’Etna goats, clinically healthy, were used. Blood samples were collected from each animal and analyzed for Red Blood Cell (RBC), White Blood Cell (WBC), Hemoglobin concentration (Hb), Hematocrit (Hct), Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV), Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH), Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC) and Platelets (PLT). Statistical analysis showed the effect of breed (P&lt;0.05) on all studied parameters and the effect of age (P&lt;0.05) on: RBC and Hb in Messinese goats; Hct in Girgentana, Maltese and Argentata dell’Etna goats; MCV and MCHC in Argentata dell’Etna goats; WBC in Aspromontana goats; and PLT in Girgentana and Messinese goats. The findings of the present study may serve as reference values for hematology of Italian goat breeds studied in autumn which could help veterinarians to interpret laboratory data appropriately and to monitor animal health status in order to improve the management and conservation of these breeds.</p></abstract>

Hematological parameters in healthy goats show several variations in relation to breed, age, reproductive status, environmental factors and management conditions. Therefore, there is the need to investigate these factors and how they affect the animal’s hematology. The aims of this study were to establish hematological reference values of five Italian goat breeds at different age classes (1–2, 3–4 and over 5 years) considered in autumn and to evaluate the effects of some factors (breed, age and environmental conditions). Ninety-six dried female Aspromontana goats, 102 Girgentana goats, 99 Messinese goats, 96 Maltese goats and 108 Argentata dell’Etna goats, clinically healthy, were used. Blood samples were collected from each animal and analyzed for Red Blood Cell (RBC), White Blood Cell (WBC), Hemoglobin concentration (Hb), Hematocrit (Hct), Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV), Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH), Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC) and Platelets (PLT). Statistical analysis showed the effect of breed (P<0.05) on all studied parameters and the effect of age (P<0.05) on: RBC and Hb in Messinese goats; Hct in Girgentana, Maltese and Argentata dell’Etna goats; MCV and MCHC in Argentata dell’Etna goats; WBC in Aspromontana goats; and PLT in Girgentana and Messinese goats. The findings of the present study may serve as reference values for hematology of Italian goat breeds studied in autumn which could help veterinarians to interpret laboratory data appropriately and to monitor animal health status in order to improve the management and conservation of these breeds.

Factors Affecting the Hematological Parameters in Different Goat Breeds from Italy

Department of Veterinary Sciences, Polo Universitario Annunziata, University of Messina, 98168, Messina, Italy

Annals of Animal Science

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Hematological parameters in healthy goats show several variations in relation to breed, age, reproductive status, environmental factors and management...

Factors Affecting the Hematological Parameters in Different Goat Breeds from Italy

Published Online: Aug 02, 2016

Page range: 743 - 757

Received: Jul 14, 2015

Accepted: Jan 12, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/aoas-2015-0094

Keywords
goats, age, breed, hematological parameters, reference intervals

© 2016 Francesca Arfuso et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Factors Affecting the Hematological Parameters in Different Goat Breeds from Italy

Published Online: Aug 02, 2016

Page range: 743 - 757

Received: Jul 14, 2015

Accepted: Jan 12, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/aoas-2015-0094

Keywordsgoats, age, breed, hematological parameters, reference intervals

© 2016 Francesca Arfuso et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
goats, age, breed, hematological parameters, reference intervals