SERUM BIOCHEMICAL PROFILE OF NELLORE AND GIROLANDO COWS RAISED IN STATE OF MARANHÃO

Abstract The aim of this research was to evaluate serum activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), creatine kinase (CK), gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), and on serum concentrations of albumin, bilirubin, total and ionized calcium, cholesterol, creatinine, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, total protein, sodium, triglycerides, and urea of Nellore (n=120) and Girolando (n=120) healthy cows, aged 24 to 36 months, using a semiautomatic spectrophotometer and automatic ion analyzer. Assessment of enzyme activity showed the influence of racial factors in the results of CK, the values of Nellore cows (87.5 U/L) being higher than the Girolando cows (68.6 U/L). Serum levels of creatinine (Crea), total bilirubin (TB), unconjugated bilirubin (UB) and ionized calcium were also influenced by breed, and the values obtained for the Nellore cows (Crea: 1.61 mg/dL, TB: 0.28 mg/dL and UB: 0.19 mg/dL) were higher than those observed for Girolando cows (Crea: 1.47 mg/dL, TB: 0.23 mg/dL and UB: 0.14 mg/dL), except for ionized calcium (Nellore: 0.66 mMol/L and Girolando: 0.73 mMol/L). The results evidenced the influence of racial factor on some biochemical parameters, and, therefore, should be taken into consideration for correct interpretation of laboratory tests.