Profiles of some clinical chemical parameters in growing dwarf and landrace kids.

Plasma creatinine, urea, bilirubin, glucose, cholesterol, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, inorganic phosphorus and total serum proteins were analyzed in kids of Dwarf and Danish Landrace breeds from birth to 12 months of age. The purpose was to determine the reference ranges, age profiles and the influence of other factors. Comparisons between parametric (mean +/- standard deviation) and the corresponding nonparametric (5th and 95th percentile, median) values were calculated for each parameter, the results of which indicated no apparent differences. The levels were very much dependent on age. Creatinine, urea and total serum protein levels increased gradually with age. Glucose and cholesterol levels were high at birth and then decreased with age. The electrolyte concentrations were maintained within narrow limits. Significant differences were observed between kids of different ages (within the breeds), breeds (within similar age) and herds (within the same age and breed). Differences between female and male Landrace kids of the same ages were observed in plasma urea, creatinine, glucose and total serum proteins. It is concluded that age has a major influence on the clinical chemical reference values in young goats, followed by herd and breed, but the influence of sex was small and is negligible in most parameters.