Influences of breed, sex and age on seasonal changes in haematological variables of tropical goat kids

Buhari Habibu,Tavershima Dzenda,Lukman Yaqub,Tagang Aluwong,Hajarah Buhari,Hussaina Makun,Mohammed Kawu

doi:10.5194/aab-60-33-2017

Buhari Habibu, Tavershima Dzenda + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.5194/aab-60-33-2017

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Abstract

Abstract. The influences of breed, sex and age on seasonal changes in haematological variables of kids (1–4 months old) belonging to Red Sokoto (n = 60) and Sahel (n = 60) goats were studied at the peaks of the cold-dry, hot-dry and rainy seasons in a West Africa Guinea savanna climate. The results showed that, during the hot-dry season, Sahel goat kids had significantly higher (P < 0.05) packed cell volume (PCV) and red blood cell (RBC) count but lower (P < 0.05) mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and total leucocyte count than Red Sokoto kids. Similarly, younger kids of both breed had significantly higher (P < 0.05) PCV and RBC but lower MCV, MCH and MCHC compared with the older kids during the hot-dry season. Younger kids (1–2 months) of both breeds exhibited significantly (P < 0.05) high PCV and RBC but low MCH and MCHC during the hot-dry season as compared with the cold-dry and rainy seasons, with the magnitude of the change being greater in Sahel kids. More remarkable seasonal fluctuations in haematological parameters were observed in buck kids than doe kids of both breeds. Multivariate analysis revealed a clear distinction between the change in haematological parameters during the cold-dry as compared with the hot-dry and rainy seasons, with MCV having the strongest discriminating power (0.91*). In conclusion, breed, age and sex variations in haematological variables of goats were more pronounced in the hot-dry season, during which the seasonal changes were more dramatic in kids of Sahel goats, as well as in younger and male kids of both breeds. These findings may be useful in the management of tropical goat kids in different seasons.

Highlights

In many developing countries of the world, different breeds of goats play vital roles in the economy, religion, nutrition and tradition of poor livestock owners
The haematological parameters recorded in the present study were within the normal range for goats reported by other authors (Jain, 1986; Addass et al, 2010; Zumbo et al, 2011), except for some deviations observed in packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell (RBC), MHC and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) during the HDS, in the Sahel goat kids
Season significantly influenced haematological variables, with the impact of heat stress during the HDS being more profound in kids of Sahel goats, and in younger and male kids of both breeds

Summary

Introduction

In many developing countries of the world, different breeds of goats play vital roles in the economy, religion, nutrition and tradition of poor livestock owners. In Nigeria, the three distinct indigenous breeds of goats are Red Sokoto (Maradi or Savanna Brown), Sahel (West African Long-legged or White Bornu) and West African Dwarf (Egwu et al, 1995). Dwarf goats are largely restricted to the coast of West and Central Africa (Gall, 1996; Habibu et al, 2016a). Adaptation of these breeds of goats, the Sahel goats, to new geographical regions of the country, including the northern Guinea savanna zone and rainforest zone has been observed (Habibu et al, 2017). The Guinea savanna climate of West Africa is found north of the rainforest zone, while the Sahel climate is located south of the Sahara (Fig. 1).

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