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Hematology and blood microelements of sheep in south Bohemia

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Abstract

The efficiency of sheep is dependent on their health and well-being. The blood markers can be critical for improving of the physiological, nutritional and pathological status of sheep organism. The aim of this study was to test the hypotheses that the red and white blood cells and copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) plasma contents are impacted by altitude and season. The ewes were kept at three farms. Blood samples were divided according to factors of altitude (550 m, 800 m, 950 m above sea level), season (spring, fall) and year. The lowest haemoglobin concentration and value of haematocrit were detected at the altitude of 550 m (66.95 g L−1, 0.36 L L−1) and the highest at the altitude of 950 m (117.96 g L−1, 0.39 L L−1) (P < 0.001). Spring values of haemoglobin and haematocrit were lower than fall values. The highest count of leucocytes was recorded at the altitude 950 m (9.57 G L−1), higher counts were contained in spring (P < 0.001). The lowest percentage of eosinophiles was found at the altitude of 800 m (5.81%) and the highest at the altitude of 550 m (9.26%) (P < 0.01). Phagocytose activities were the highest at the altitude of 950 m (95.07%) and the lowest at the altitude of 550 m (85.04%) (P < 0.001). Phagocytose activities were higher in fall than in spring. The highest Cu concentration was found at the altitude of 550 m and the lowest at the altitude of 800 m (17.04 μmol L−1 vs. 14.37 μmol L−1). Zn levels were higher at altitudes of 950 m and 800 m than at the altitude of 550 m (17.81 μmol L−1, 17.00 μmol L−1 vs. 14.77 μmol L−1). We concluded that hematological markers and trace mineral content in grazed sheep may be impacted by altitude and season.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Agriculture, University of South Bohemia, Studentská 13, CZ-37005, Česk’e Budějovice, Czech Republic

    Miloslav Šoch & Pavla Šrejberová

  2. Animal Production Research Centre Nitra, Hlohovská 2, SK-95141, Lužianky, Slovakia

    Jan Brouček

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  1. Miloslav Šoch
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  2. Jan Brouček
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  3. Pavla Šrejberová
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Correspondence to Jan Brouček.

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Šoch, M., Brouček, J. & Šrejberová, P. Hematology and blood microelements of sheep in south Bohemia. Biologia 66, 181–186 (2011). https://doi.org/10.2478/s11756-010-0150-3

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