Haematological profile in neonatal dwarf and landrace kids.

The haematological profile in neonatal dwarf and Danish landrace kids was investigated in 62 healthy Danish landrace and 34 dwarf kids from birth to 12 months of age in 7 herds. The objective was to determine the reference values in the breeds, and evaluate the influence of age and environment on haematological parameters. Parametric (means and standard deviations) and non-parametric (5th, 95th percentile, median) values were calculated for each analysis. Results of the two statistical methods were close to each other. The number of erythrocytes in both breeds increased with age from neonatal minimum values. Haemoglobin concentration and haematocrit decreased from the neonatal values in the following two weeks of life, whereafter they increased. Haemoglobin concentration and mean corpuscular volumes were significantly higher in neonatal dwarf than in landrace kids. Differences in erythrocyte counts and haematocrit were observed with subsequent growth. There were significant differences in erythrocyte counts, haemoglobin concentration, haematocrit, mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular haemoglobin, between breeds (in kids of similar age), age groups (within the breeds) and herds (in kids of similar age within the breeds). Statistically significant differences in haematological values between female and male kids of similar young ages within the same breed were not observed. Age, breed and environment influenced the level of haematological parameters in kids.