Abstract

VICENTE-PEREZ, Arnulfo et al. Biochemical and hematological parameters in hair sheep with and without shade under desert conditions. Ecosistemas y recur. agropecuarios [online]. 2018, vol.5, n.14, pp.259-269. ISSN 2007-901X.  https://doi.org/10.19136/era.a5nl4.1544.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of shade use on the biochemical and hematological parameters in hair ewe lambs kept under conditions of caloric stress. Twenty Dorper x Pelibuey cross hair ewe lambs were randomly assigned to one of two treatments: 1) ewe lambs in individual shaded pens (WS, n = 10); and 2) ewe lambs in individual pens without access to shade (NS, n = 10). Blood samples were taken by puncturing the jugular vein. The collection was made during the morning (6:00 h), every third day during the 16-d study. The hematological parameters were determined in fresh blood samples, while the metabolites and electrolytes were determined in serum samples. The data were analyzed with a randomized block design. WS ewe lambs had a lower (p < 0.05) concentration of cholesterol and triglycerides than the NS ewe lambs. The K and Cl concentrations were higher (p < 0.05) for the NS group than the WS group. WS ewe lambs showed a higher (p < 0.05) platelet concentration, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin and erythrocyte distribution width, but lower hemoglobin concentration in relation to NS ewe lambs. The results show that hair sheep have the ability to adapt to high temperatures, since no significant changes were observed in their hematological and biochemical components as a result of their exposure time to heat.

Keywords : Electrolytes; caloric stress; hemoglobin; metabolites; sheep.

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