Research Article

Analysis of selected hematological and biochemical parameters of blood of Limousin calves in the early neonatal period

Radosław Drozd , Anna Kirdzik, Dorota Jankowiak

Department of Immunology, Microbiology and Physiological Chemistry, West Pomeranian University of Technology, Szczecin, al. Piastów 45, 70-311 Szczecin, Poland

1. Acta Sci. Pol. Zootechnica, 14(4), 2015, 43‒54

Abstract. The study involved a group of the Limousin breed calves to check changes in selected hematological and biochemical indices of blood as the number of red blood cells (RBC), hematocrit index (HCT), hemoglobin concentration (Hb) parameters, the total iron binding capacity (TIBC), unsaturated iron binding capacity (UIBC), concentrations of Fe and antioxidant status in the first ten days of neonatal period. In the analyzed period was found in blood of heifers increase of RBC value compared to the bulls group. The Hb and HCT indices were reduced systematically in time, regardless of gender. The values of TIBC increased steadily, while the degree of saturation of transferrin by iron (TS%) was reduced with decreasing of the plasma Fe concentration. It was also noticed downward trend in plasma antioxidant capacity value of studied calves. The observed changes in analyzed parameters of blood indicate on increased requirements of Limousin claves for iron supply in first days of life.

Keywords: calves, iron, FRAP, antioxidant