Blood Studies of Red Sindhi-Jersey Crosses

Abstract

Summary Blood analyses for packed red blood cells (hematocrit) hemoglobin, plasma Ca and plasma inorganic P of 16 Sindhi-Jersey daughters and their Jersey dams, determined monthly over a 2-yr. period, are presented. Plasma Ca values were similar for both groups of animals, while higher values for hematocrit, hemoglobin and inorganic P of the Sindhi-Jersey daughters over their dams were obtained, which were highly significant at P=0.01. The difference between the crosses and purebreds for inorganic P was found to be due mainly to age, while the difference for hematocrit and hemoglobin values probably is due to a breed difference. Correlation coefficients between the blood levels of the daughters and dams were not significant. There was no evidence of any seasonal variation in any of the blood levels of the Sindhi-Jersey crosses or their Jersey dams. However, a highly significant difference between months was found. Higher packed red blood cell and hemoglobin levels in the Sindhi-Jersey crosses over their Jersey dams might be an index to their higher heat tolerance. Further research is needed to prove this point.