Abstract

This study was conducted to know the effect of management practices and sex on the hematological parameters of the West African Dwarf (WAD) goat. Hematological values of this breed of goat were evaluated under the intensive and extensive systems of management. The intensively managed animals had significantly higher (P < 0.01) erythrocyte, total white blood cell, lymphocyte and eosinophil counts than goats managed extensively. Similarly the mean corpuscular volume (MVC) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) were significantly higher (P < 0.01) in the intensively managed goats. Both groups of animals however had similar monocyte counts, basophil counts, haemoglobin concentrations, packed cell volume and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration. There was no sexual dimorphism in the erythrocyte and leucocyte values. This study revealed that although management systems influenced the haematological values in the WAD goats, the effect of sex on the blood profiles was minimal.

Key word: Goat, haematology, management, sex.