The Effects Of Age And Gender On The Haematology And Serum Biochemical Profile Of West African Dwarf (WAD) Goats In Umuahia, South Eastern Nigeria:- Udoh, Abasiodiong C

ABSTRACT Keywords Haematology, Biochemical parameters, WAD goats, Age and Sex vi The effects of age and gender on the haematology and serum biochemical parameters of 20 apparently healthy WAD goats consisting of 10 Adults (5 Does and 5 Bucks) and 10 young ones (5 Doe-kids and 5 Buck-kids) in Umuahia South-eastern Nigeria were studied. The goats were randomly selected from the flock and divided into four groups offive animals each according to their ages and sexes thus; groups I, II, III and IV representing the Doe-kid, Buck-kid, Doe and Buck respectively. The animals were kept with their owners throughout the period of the study. The study lasted for 30 days and animals had no visible signs of ectoparasites. Significant difference (p<0.05) was observed in packed cell volume, haemoglobin (Hb) concentration. Lymphocyte, Neutrophil, Monocyte (counts), MCH and MCHC which were seen as 19.71±0.23(%), 10.00±0.46(g/dl), 6.17±0.33(l03/pl), 3.96±0.24(103/pl) 0.02± 0.00(103/pl), 7.15±0.51(pg) and 30.26±0.59(g/dl) respectively. The adult WAD goats had significantly higher (p<0.05) values for PCV, HbC, Lymphocytes counts, MCH and MCHC while young goats had significantly higher (p<0.05) Neutrophil counts than the adults. Sex difference was observed as males had higher (p<0.05) mean HbC, Neutrophil and MCH values compared to their female counterparts while PCV and lymphocytes were higher (p<0.05) in male goats. The values obtained for serum Total protein, Albumin, Globulin and Urea were 6.17±0.18 (g/dl), 2.72±0.13 (g/dl), 3.45±0.17 (g/dl) and 22.53±1.87 (mg/dl) respectively. Adult WAD goats had significantly higher (p<.005) Urea values than young WAD goats. There were no significant variations (p>0.05) in the mean RBC, TWBC, eosinophil, basophil, MCV, albumin, cholesterol, creatinine and ALT for all the groups.