| Abstrakt: |
The aim of the present study is to estimate the values of some blood parameters − RBC, HCT, HGB, MCHC, MCH, MCV and EOS of two Karakachan sheep breed herds, reared at different altitudes (740 and 1150 m above sea level), depending on their body condition score (BSC) and the presence of parasites. The research was carried out in the experimental base "Zlatusha" of IAS- Kostinbrod and in a farm in the locality "Govedova voda", Vratsa Balkan Mountain in June 2022. From the two herds of sheep (1.5−7.5 years old) representative excerpts were selected consisted by 50 animals each, from which blood samples were taken by jugular venipuncture in EDTA anticoagulant tubes. The body condition score was performed during sampling by one individual using an adapted system. Fresh faeces (total sample) were also collected for parasitological tests (coproovoscopy and coprolarvoscopy). Blood analysis was performed with a 5-Part-Diff Automated Hematology Analyzer. The body condition score of the sheep from the herd of IAS − Kostinbrod, despite the presence of gastrointestinal parasites, is better than that of the animals from the village of Milanovo, as the difference is significant for the herds overall (P<0.05). The increased metabolism in the sheep from the IAS compensates the higher altitude in the animals reared in the village of Milanovo regarding the levels of hemoglobin (HGB) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and the differences in general for the herds are significant, respectively at P<0.001 and P <0.01. For the parameter mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), there was a significant difference between the herds in the three groups - overall for the herds (P<0.001) and in the groups with high (P<0.01) and low (P<0.001) hematocrit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
