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Seasonal variations in blood composition in high and low potassium type Marwari sheep
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 27 March 2009
Summary
Blood samples were obtained at monthly intervals for 12 months from 8 HK and 8 LK wethers of the Marwari breed maintained at Jodhpur (26° 05′ N, 73° 01′ E). The samples were analysed for packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell count (RBC), haemoglobin concentration (Hb), mean cell volume (MCV), mean cell haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), plasma inorganic phosphorus and plasma specific conductance.
The HK animals, on average, had significantly higher PCV, RBC, Hb, MCHC and plasma inorganic phosphorus values than the LK animals but the MCV was significantly higher in the LK group. There was no difference in the plasma specific conductance.
PCV, RBC and Hb values differed considerably from animal to animal within each group. These individual variations could help the breed to survive in a desert environment.
No particular tendency or pattern in the effect of season on the blood characters studied has been observed. This indicates that the animals of both groups responded in a similar way to the environmental changes.
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