Hematological Parameters of Alpine Goats in Bosnia and Herzegovina

The aim of our study was to assess the values of hematological profile of Alpine goats in Bosnia and Herzegovina in order to monitor health status of goats; moreover, to determine the effect of age on hematological parameters of goats. A total of 40 apparently healthy Alpine goats included in this study were divided into four groups according to age: <1 year old (Group 1), 1 to 3 years old (Group 2), 3 to 5 years old (Group 3) and >5 years old (Group 4). The following hematological parameters were measured: Red Blood Cell count (RBC), hematocrit (HCT), hemoglobin (HGB), Mean Cell Volume (MCV), Mean Cell Hemoglobin (MCH), Mean Cell Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC), Reticulocyte count (RETIC), White Blood Cell (WBC), as well as white blood cells differentiation and determination of absolute values white blood cells; platelet count (PLT), and Mean Platelet Volume (MPV). All values investigated in our study were within reference range, except MCHC, percentage of neutrophils and percentage of monocytes. For investigated hematologic parameters, significant (P < 0.05) age-related differences were found for HCT, MCV, MCHC, WBC, lymphocytes and platelet count. Recorded differences might be influenced by undetected infections, genetics, nutrition, fluctuations in the climate or management.