Evaluation of Anemia in Calves up to 4 Months of Age in Holstein Dairy Herds

Abstract

Occurrence of anaemia in suckling dairy calves up to 4 months old with regard to age and sex susceptibility was investigated in Urmia, Iran.  From 25 dairy herds, 164 calves including 97 females and 67 males were selected. Five ml jugular vein blood was collected from calves into 2 ml with EDTA and 3 ml without EDTA tubes.  Blood parameters were evaluated for haematocrit, haemoglobin, erythrocytes, leucocytes, total plasma protein, iron, total iron banding capacity (TIBC), neutrophils, lymphocytes, MCV, MCH, and MCHC. Anaemia was classified according to the haematocrit values, over 24%, 20-23.99%, 12- 19.99% and less than 12% as normal, mild anaemia, moderate anaemia and severe anaemia. The percentage of anaemia in calves was 17.7% including 14% mild and 3.7% was moderate anaemia (P<0.05). The percentage of moderate and mild anaemia in female calves was greater than in male calves but the differences was not significant. Significant age differences (P<0.05) was observed at 3 months of age for moderate and up to 2 months old for mild anaemia. Mean haemoglobin, erythrocytes, iron, lymphocytes, TIBC and MCV decrease by increasing the anaemia and mean leucocytes, neutrophils, MCHC and protein increase by increasing the anaemia level but it was significant (P<0.05) only for haematocrit, haemoglobin, erythrocytes and MCHC.  In conclusion, calves reveal a mild anaemia, which is not related to iron deficiency. Sex difference was not obvious in anaemia while three months old is the critical age for moderate anaemia outbreaks in Urmia dairy calves that prevention procedures must be considered.