Effect of gender on hematological parameters in growing Ouled Djellal sheep of semi arid zones of Northeastern Algeria.

Ouled Djellal sheep is the most dominant breed in Algeria due to its adaptation to harsh steppe environment. Hematological parameters are good indicators of animal health, but their values are breed-specific, and they are affected by age and gender. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the hematological profile of healthy Ouled Djellal lambs and ewe lambs reared traditionally under semi-arid zones of Algeria during the growing period. Blood samples were taken from twenty-four Ouled Djellal lambs (12 males, 12 females) at 42, 63, 84 and 105 days of age to evaluate the count of White Blood Cells, Lymphocyte, Monocyte, Granulocyte, Red Blood Cell and total Platelet, the percentage of Lymphocyte, Monocyte and Granulocyte, Hemoglobin concentration, Hematocrit, Mean Corpuscular Volume, Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin and Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration by usual known methods. Both male and female lambs did not show significant variations in mean values of White Blood Cells, Lymphocyte count, Red Blood Cells, Hemoglobin, Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin concentration, percentage of Monocyte, Monocyte count, Gran percentage and Granulocyte count from 42th day to 105th days. Mean values of percentage of Lymphocyte, Hematocrite in lambs, Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin in ewe lambs, and Mean Corpuscular Volume, Platelets levels in both lambs and ewe lambs indicated also variations during this period of growth. Significant Pearson's correlations were found between some hematological parameters in Ouled Djellal lambs and/or ewe lambs. Therefore, these findings provide usual values, which can be considered for assessing the physiological, nutritional and health status of these animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]