Dairy

Some Important Blood Parameters of Dairy-Beef Crossbred Calves

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Abstract

In this report, we describe the differences in hematology and blood chemistry between Holsten × Angus (HA) and Holsten × Angus × Simmental (AHS) calves. This report also includes the correlations (R, R = Pearson correlation coefficients) of those blood parameters with average daily gain (ADG). Blood (jugular) was drawn from 18 AH and 12 AHS calves at 6, 45, and 90 d of age. Body weight was recorded on the same days and ADG during 6 to 45 d (P1) and 45 to 90 d (P2) were calculated. The correlations were analyzed aligning ADG of P1 with blood parameters of d 45, and ADG of P2 with blood parameters of d 90. The results highlighted that several parameters in blood chemistry and hematology analysis were significantly different between AH and AHS. Regardless of them being different or similar between breeds,several blood parameters had strong relationships with ADG.  For example, serum albumin was significantly affected by breed (P = 0.008) and had a strong relationship with ADG (R = 0.73), even though there was not significant difference in ADG between HA and HAS. Among, hematological parameters, hemoglobin concentration was different between HA and HAS (P = 0.050) but again had a significant relationship with ADG (R = 0.52). On the other hand, blood creatinine concentrations were similar between breeds but had strong relationship with ADG (R = -0.78). Overall, this report provides valuable information that would be useful in developing tools to describe and evaluate within or between breed heterogeneity in the performance of dairy-beef crossbred cattle.

Keywords: growth, blood chemistry, hematology, crossbred dairy

How to Cite:

Appuhamy, R., Stepanchenko, N. & Wickramasinghe, J., (2021) “Some Important Blood Parameters of Dairy-Beef Crossbred Calves”, Iowa State University Animal Industry Report 17(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/air.11932