Int. J. Agric.Sc & Vet.Med.

2013

D I Hassan et al., 2013

ISSN 2320-3730 www.ijasvm.com
Vol. 1, No. 4, November 2013
2013 www.ijasvm.com. All Rights Reserved

Research Paper

INFLUENCE OF AGE, SEX AND SEASON ON

HAEMATOLOGY AND SERUM CHEMISTRY OF RED
SOKOTO GOATS IN LAFIA, NASARAWA STATE
NIGERIA
D I Hassan1*, I S Musa-Azara1, J Mohammed1 and I A Zanwa1

*Corresponding Author: D I Hassan, Idris022@yahoo.com

The study was conducted to determine the influence of age, sex and season on the haematology
and serum chemistry of Red sokoto goats studied in Lafia, Nasarawa State of Nigeria. Blood
samples were collected from a total of 100 Red sokoto goats across different ages, sex and
seasons. The result obtained from the analysis of haematological parameters showed that
RBC, WBC and PCV was higher in goats greater than 1 year but not significantly different (P >
0.05) from goats 6-9 months and 10-1 year while HB value was higher in 10-1 yr than those of
>1 and 6-9 months. Sex and season had no significant influence (P > 0.05) on haematological
parameters. Serum chemistry showed that Age had significant influence (P < 0.05) on uric acid
with values 172.24 22.15, 157.62 19.22 and 157.56 27.08 for age 6-9 months, 10-1 year
and >1 yr respectively while age on other parameters were not significant. Sex had significant
influence (P < 0.05) on uric acid with values of 159.12 and 167.51 for male and female goats.
Season had significant influence (P < 0.05) on Uric acid with values 157.42 19.87 for dry and
167.46 19.04 for rainy season while season on other parameters were not significant.
Keywords: Influence, Season, Haematology, Serum chemistry, Red sokoto goats, Lafia

INTRODUCTION

Goat production in Nigeria makes a major

contribution to the agrarian economy and being a
small size ruminant, is capable of integrating itself
into dissimilar socio economic situation prevailing
in our country Nigeria. Economically, goat is
ideally suited for rural folks especially for marginal
and handless labourers by its low cost

Goats are important domestic animals in the

tropical livestock production system which in
Nigeria are principally for meat production, while
their potential for milk production is being
harnessed by majority of owner domiciles in
Nigeria rural communities (Devendra et al., 1983).
1

Animal Science Department, College of Agriculture P.M.B 033 Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria.

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Int. J. Agric.Sc & Vet.Med. 2013

D I Hassan et al., 2013

maintenance, short term return on capital with low

risk capital investment (Gopalakrishman et al.,
1991; and Daramola et al., 2005). Among the three
breeds of goat in Nigeria, Red Sokoto goat widely
used and distributed breed in the Northern
Savannah belts of the country (Ngere et al., 1984).
To be precise they are one of the few well defined
breed in Nigeria and is uniformly dark red in colour,
horn in both sexes and short haired.

January and March. The mean monthly maximum

temperatures were from 31.8 C-39.1 C and
minimum from 17.1 C-26.2 C (NIMET, 2009).

Azab and Abdel-maksound (1999) reported that

there is variation in the haematology and serum
chemistry as observed between breeds of goats.
In this regard, it may be difficult to formulate a
universal metabolic profile test of goats
(Tambuwal et al., 2002). These differences have
further underlined the need to establish
appropriate physiological and pathological
baseline values for various breeds of livestock in
Nigeria which could help in realistic evaluation of
the management practice, nutrition and diagnoses
of health condition. Red sokoto is the most popular
breed among goats slaughtered day by day in
Lafia and much work has not been done on
haematology and serum chemistry of Red sokoto
goats in Lafia especially as it applies to age, sex
and season.

Three mls of blood was obtained weekly through

the jugular vein using a 5 ml syringe and 21 guage
needles then immediately transferred into 2 sterile
test tubes; 1 ml into the first tube containing EDTA
for haematological determination and 2 mls into
the second tube without anti-coagulant for other
serum biochemical determination. The first with
EDTA was used to determine RBC, WBC using
the improved Neubauer haemocytometer as
described by Dacie and Lewis (1991). PCV was
determined using the microhaematocrit method
(Bernard et al., 2000) and haemoglobin (HB) using
cyanometheoglobin method according to Cole
(1986). Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV), Mean
Corpuscular Haemoglobin (MCH), and Mean
Corpuscular Haemoglobin Concentration
(MCHC) were determined using the appropriate
formular (Stockham and Scott, 2002). The blood
sample for serum biochemistry were centrifuge
in a micro-centrifuge to generate serum for
biochemical analysis. Total protein was
determined using the Biuret method as described
by Doumas (1975), Albumin using dye-binding
techniques with bromocresol green as described
by Doumas and Birggs (1972), Globulin by
difference (Total protein minus Albumin).

Experimental Animals
A total of 100 Red sokoto goats of different sex
and ages in different season in Lafia were used
for the study.

Blood Collection and Preparation

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Study Area
The study was carried out in Lafia the state capital
of Nasarawa state, located in the north central
part of Nigeria between latitude 835N and
longitude 832e, mean temperature of 32 C and
altitude 181.53 m. It is bounded by so many district
and other local governments. The dry season is
from November to April and the wet season from
May to October. During the period study most of
the rains fell between the months of May and
October. The driest months were December,

Statistical Analysis
Data obtained were analyzed using the General
Linear Model (SAS, 1999). The model was as
specified below:

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Int. J. Agric.Sc & Vet.Med. 2013

D I Hassan et al., 2013

The model is stated Thus:

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Yijkl = + Ai + Sj + SEk + eijkl

Influence of Age on Haematology and

Serum Chemistry

where

Table 1 shows the influence of age on blood

parameters. RBC, WBC and PCV values were
higher in goats greater than 1 year but not
statistically different (P > 0.05) from RBC, WBC
and PCV of the goats 6-9 months and 10-1 year,
while HB value was higher in goats 10-1 yr
followed by those >1 yr while the least was 6-9
months. Red Blood Cell (RBC), White Blood Cell
(WBC), Haemoglobin (Hb), mean corpuscular
volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin and
Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Concentration
(MCHC) were higher in goats greater than 1 year
(P > 0.05) compared to values obtained for those
goats 6-9 months and 10-1 year (Table 1).

Yijkl = The observed values of haematology

and serum chemistry on red sokoto goats
= Population mean
Ai = Effect of ith age
Sj = Effect of jth sex (j = 1, 2), i.e., male, female
SEk = Effect of kth season (k = 1, 2), i.e., dry,
rainy
eijkl = Error term
Duncan Multiple Range test was used to
separate the mean that are significantly different
(Gomez and Gomez, 1984).

Table 1: Least Square Mean Standard Error as Affected by the Influence of Age
on Haematology and Serum Chemistry
Age
Dependent Variables
6-9 months

10-1 yr

>1 yr

RBC (x106/ml)

2.81 0.70a

3.03 0.65a

3.07 0.86a

WBC (x103/ml)

9.82 2.87a

9.38 2.48a

11.39 3.51a

PCV (%)

30.54 3.98a

31.51 3.46a

32.52 4.87a

HB (g/dl)

9.35 1.25a

9.81 1.09a

9.52 1.53a

MCV (fl)

10.75 1.75a

10.74 1.55a

10.28 2.18a

MCH

3.22 0.31a

3.318 0.26a

3.01 0.37a

MCHC

32.50 3.06a

32.24 2.65a

30.52 3.74a

40.20 2.77a

39.06 2.40a

39.10 3.39a

172.24 22.15b

157.62 19.22a

157.56 27.08a

Total Protein

61.66 5.69a

65.26 4.93a

63.72 6.95a

Albumin

31.11 3.77a

32.50 3.27a

32.18 4.62a

Globulin

30.55 5.17a

32.76 4.49a

31.62 6.32a

Blood Glucose

3.23 0.86a

3.55 0.75a

3.72 1.06a

Blood Urea

3.78 0.76a

3.95 0.66a

4.13 0.93a

Haematology

Serum Chemistry
Creatinine
Uric Acid

Note:

a, b

= Mean with different superscripts on the same row were significantly different (P < 0.05).

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D I Hassan et al., 2013

However, the values of RBC, WBC, PCV and HB

obtained in this study fell within the broad range
recorded for Red Sokoto goats (Tambuwal et al.,
2002; and Daramola et al., 2005). The WBC and
HB is an advantage in terms of the oxygen
carrying capacity of the blood and are beneficial
in assessing the protein status/immune and
possibly forecastle the degree of protein
supplementation and immune status in goats at
different physiological status (Tambuwal et al.,
2002). The goats seem to possess protective
system, providing a rapid and potent defence
against any infective agent and this is probably
the physiological basis for the adaptation of this
species to this eco-zone characteristised with
high prevalence of disease.

(P > 0.05) on RBC, WBC, PCV, HB, MCV, MCH

and MCHC values. The values were higher in
male than female goats. The RBC, WBC, HB,
PCV, MCV, MCH and MCHC values obtained in
this study in both sexes were comparable to those
previously reported (Tambuwal et al., 2002; and
Daramola et al., 2005).
The results showed that Cretinine, total protein,
albumin, globulin, Glucose and urea levels were
comparable (P > 0.05) in male and female red
sokoto goats. The result showed that uric acid
was higher in female than male goats, with values
of 167.51 and 159.12 respectively; this may be
due to persistent enzyme activities that are mostly
responsible for the synthesis of hypoglycemia
according to Radostits et al. (1994). The values
of creatinine and Total protein fell within the values
as reported by Tambuwal et al. (2002). Otesile
and Kasali (1993) investigated the influence of
sex on serum concentration of total protein, and
reported that male had significantly higher total
protein concentration than female. Animals that
grow at a faster rate than others sometimes have
high serum albumin and haemoglobin according
to Broughton and Lecce (1970).

Cretinine, total protein, albumin, globulin,

Glucose and urea levels were comparable in age
groups Table 1. Age had significant influence (P
< 0.05) on uric acid with values 172.24 22.15,
157.62 19.22 and 157.56 27.08 for age 6-9
months, 10-1 year and >1 yr respectively while
age on other parameters were not significant. The
values of creatinine, serum protein, albumin,
globulin, glucose and blood urea falls within the
range reported by Jain (1986), Esugbohungbe
and Oduyemi (2002) and Tambuwal et al. (2002).
The values obtained in this study were lower in
animals greater than 1 year and 10-1 year as
compare to animals 6-9 months while uric acid
is lower in older goats as compared to 6-9
months. Serum creatinine helps in evaluating the
liver function and diseases while a serum urea
value evaluates renal function and it may also
indicate dehydration.

Influence of Season on Haematology and

Serum Chemistry
Table 3 shows the influence of sex on
haematology and serum chemistry. Season had
no significant influence (P > 0.05) on RBC, WBC,
PCV, HB, MCV, MCH and MCHC values. The
values of RBC, WBC and PCV were higher in
dry season as compare to rainy season while
HB value was higher (9.68 1.08) in rainy season
than (9.37 1.13), the values of MCV, MCH and
MCHC were lower in dry than rainy season.
Season had significant influence (P < 0.05) on
Uric acid with values 157.42 19.87 for dry and
167.46 19.04 for rainy season while season on

Influence of Sex on Haematology and

Serum Chemistry
Table 2 shows the influence of sex on blood
parameters. Sex had no significant influence

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D I Hassan et al., 2013

Table 2: Influence of Sex on the Haematology and Serum Chemistry of Red Sokoto Goats
Sex
Dependent Variables
Male

Female

SEM

3.03

2.89

0.31

WBC (x10 /ml)

10.97

9.44

1.30

PCV (%)

32.02

30.93

1.80

HB (g/dl)

9.66

9.39

0.56

MCV (fl)

10.51

10.65

0.81

MCH (pg)

3.11

3.10

0.13

MCHC (%)

31.49

31.98

1.38

39.81

39.11

1.25

159.12a

167.51b

10.02

Total Protein

63.55

63.21

2.57

Albumin

32.79

30.78

1.37

Globulin

30.76

32.49

2.33

Blood Glucose

3.44

3.57

0.39

Blood Urea

3.98

3.92

0.34

Haematology
RBC (x106/ml)
3

Serum Chemistry
Creatinine
Uric Acid

Note:

a, b

= Means within a row with different superscript are significant different (P < 0.05), SEM = Standard Error of Mean.

Table 3 (Cont.)

Table 3: Least Square Mean Standard Error

as Affected by the Influence of Season
on Haematology and Serum Chemistry

Dry

Rainy

3.06 0.63a

2.88 0.6a

Haematology
RBC (x106/ml)
3

10.94 2.57

PCV (%)

31.88 3.57

HB (g/dl)

9.37 1.13

MCV (fl)

10.33 1.60a

10.78 1.54a

MCH

3.05 0.28a

3.21 0.27a

MCHC

30.78 2.74a

32.49 2.63a

39.29 2.49a

39.66 2.38a

WBC (x10 /ml)

9.72 2.46

Total Protein

Rainy

Albumin

32.87 3.39a

39.66 2.38a

Globulin

30.42 4.64a

32.48 4.44a

Blood Glucose

3.41 0.77a

3.57 0.75a

Blood Urea

4.15 0.69a

3.79 0.66a

31.23 3.42

Note:

157.42 19.87
63.23 5.10

a, b
= Means within a row with different superscript are
significant different (P < 0.05), SEM = Standard Error of
Mean.

9.68 1.08a

other parameters were not significant. This

suggested that immune system is depressed
during the rainy season and the animal may likely
be infected with one or more diseases.

Serum Chemistry

Uric Acid

Dry

Season

Dependent
Variables

Creatinine

Season

Dependent
Variables

167.46 19.04

CONCLUSION
a

It can be concluded that age, sex and season

had significant influence (P < 0.05) on blood serum

63.53 4.89a

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D I Hassan et al., 2013

chemistry such as uric acid. This shows that

there is little or no variation in blood parameters
of Nigerian goats, this observation might also be
due to limited samples used or there may be other
factors resulting into this. The finding may serve
as references and can be compare both for
diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in Nigerian
goats.

8. Doumas B T (1975), Standard for Total

Serum Protein Assay, Clin. Chem., Vol. 21,
p. 1159.
9. Doumas B T and Biggs H G (1972),
Determination of Serum Albumin in
Standard Methods of Clinical Chemistry, in
Cooper G R (Ed.), Vol. 7, p. 175, Academic
Press, New York.

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