ABSTRACT

 A comparative evaluation of the haematological values of two Nigerian indigenous goats were carried out in humid south eastern Nigeria and was determined in thirty (30) goats, made up of fifteen (15) West African Dwarf (WAD) and fifteen (15) Red Sokoto (RS) Goats. Each breed comprised of four (4) adult females, four (4) young females, four (4) adult males and three young male. The goats were bled through the jugular vein and 3m1s of blood samples was collected into plastic tube containing EDTA for haematological studies. The following haematological parameter were evaluated using a student T— test. The mean value for haemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), white blood cell (WBC), red blood cell (RBC), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), mean corpuscular haemoglobin 4CH) were 7.92 and 7.23g1d1, 23.60 and 21.67%, 0.09 and 0.066mm, 1.78 and 1.57x103 p1, 5.39 and 5.29 x106j.tl, 45.93 and 43.55tm3, 33.24 and 33.31%, 15.32 and 14.52pg for Red Sokoto and West African Dwarf Gats respectively. The mean haematological values were not significantly different (p> 0.05) among the two breeds, but higher in Red Sokoto Goats. However, the mean haernatological values for both goat breeds reared in the south eastern Nigeria were Haemoglobin (Hb) 7.57 gldl, packed cell volume (PCV) 22.63%, white blood cell (WBC) 1.67 x 103m1, erytlirocyte sediment rate (ESR) 0.08, red blood cell (RBC) 5.34 x lO6,1, mean corpuscular volume (MCV) 44,74tm3, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) 33.27%, mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) 14.92pg. The haematological values for male and female, young and adult goats of the two breeds were similar (P>0.05). The white blood cell differential counts (WDC) percentage distribution of Leukocytes were similar (P>0.05) in Foth breeds of goats, in young and adult and in make and female goats. TLese could serve as a baseline data for comparison of goats breeds in an area to determine adaptability this goats to the area where they are indigenous or introduced.