PRE AND POST-COLOSTRAL DYNAMICS OF ERYTHRO-LEUKOGRAM, TOTAL PLASMA PROTEIN, AND FIBRINOGEN OF LAMBS

Abstract The aim of this study was to characterize the dynamics of some hematological parameters in healthy newborn lambs before and after colostrum intake. Blood samples of 28 newborn lambs were collected, determining the erythro-leukogram, the total plasma protein (TPP) and fibrinogen concentrations in pre and post-colostrum moments. The data were analyzed comparing the variability of the parameters between the two moments. The packed cell volume (P<0.001), the hemoglobin concentration (P<0.05) and the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) (P<0.05) decreased after colostrum intake, while the mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) increased (P<0.01) at the post-colostrum moment. There was an increase in the total white blood cell count (P<0.001) and in the absolute counts of segmented neutrophils (P<0.05) and lymphocytes (P<0.01) after colostrum intake. The TPP and fibrinogen concentrations also increased at the post-colostrum moment (P<0.001 and P<0.01, respectively). The erythro-leukogram, the TPP and fibrinogen concentrations vary considerably before and after colostrum intake, being modified according to the own colostrum intake and/or the adaptation of the physiological processes of the animal to the extrauterine life. Therefore, it is recommended that the interpretation of complete blood cell counts performed in newborn lambs be made based on the specific reference intervals for the neonatal period.