Seasonal Variation in Some Physiological Parameters in Small Ruminants

Abstract

The effect of seasonal variations on some thermoregulation and blood parameters were studied in ten male goats (five Zarabi and five Damascus). Rectal temperature, pulse rate and respiration rates were determined at 7: 00, 12;00 and 19:00 during the middle month of every season. Blood samples were collected and was shortly analyzed after collection for RBCs, WBCs, Hb and PCV. Mean corpuscular volume (MCV), (MCH), and (MCHC) were mathematically calculated. Data were statistically analyzed using SAS (2007). Results indicated that season of the year affected significantly thermoregulation parameters and RBCS indices which were estimated in males of Damascene and Zraibi goats. the highest overall averages of RT, RR and PR were recorded in summer season (39.06°C, 38.4 acts/min and 87.8 beat/min) for the males goats of Damascus and Zarabi and were accompanied by the highest recorded ambient temperature and THI during that season. The highest RBC, Hb, PCV and MCHC values(11.8 × 106 / 11.8l, 9.4 g / dL, 30.9% and 31.7 g / dL) were recorded in winter, and the highest values of MCV and MCH (30.4 fl, 9.0 pg) in summer, however, The highest (11.4(×103/μL) and lowest (9.1×103/μL) overall average of the total WBC were recorded in spring and winter, respectively in Damascus and Zraibi male blood samples. It could be concluded that season of the year affected significantly hematological and thermoregulation parameters estimated in males of Damascene and Zraibi goats in the present study, however, the values of all parameter were mostly within the physiological range for goats as reported from previous studies.