Glycosylated haemoglobin: an indicator of long-term blood glucose in domestic sheep and goats.

1. Percentages of glycosylated Hb were determined in (32) Najidi sheep (Ovis ovies) and (20) Nubian goats (Capra hiscas) from Saudi Arabia, using the thiobarbituric acid (TBA) method. 2. The levels of glycosylated Hb in sheep (3.24%) and in goats (3.96%) differ significantly from human controls (4.9%) (P greater than 0.001). 3. Generally, low blood glucose and shorter erythrocyte life span in sheep and relatively in goats are reflected in a lower value for glycosylated Hb, indicating that glycosylated Hb may be used as a valid index of long-term mean blood glucose in sheep and goats.