Haematological variations during different lactation stages in Pantja goats under field and farm conditions

Abstract

A study was conducted to study hematological parameters on 13 lactating Pantja goats under field and farm conditions, a native indigenous breed from Uttarakhand, India. The experiment compared animals maintained under two distinct management systems: seven goats under a semi-stall-fed farm condition at the Department of Livestock Production Management, GBPUAT, Pantnagar, and six goats under field conditions by a local farmer in Shantipuri. Goats of varying parity were categorized into three lactation stages for the study: S1 (0-30 days), S2 (31-60 days), and S3 (>61 days). Farm goats were housed in a loose housing system with access to cultivated fodders and grazing, while field goats utilized a mixed housing and feeding system with forest land grazing and locally available foliage. Haematological parameters of Hb concentration, PCV, MCV, MCH, MCHC were higher levels with the beginning of lactation stage but TEC of field Pantja goats and TLC of farm Pantja goats were increased at late lactation stage. Farm conditions provided a more stable physiological environment, with several parameters like Hemoglobin (Hb) and Total Erythrocyte Count (TEC) showing no significant variation across lactation stages. Field conditions induced greater variability and physiological stress. Goats in the field exhibited a significant drop in (Hb) during mid-lactation and marked changes in Packed Cell Volume (PCV), (TEC), Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV), Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH), and Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC) throughout the lactation cycle.