Blood constituents of farmed red deer (Cervus elaphus): I. Haematological values

Abstract

Approximately 100 farmed male and female red deer aged three months and over were blood-sampled and haematological parameters were measured. The deer were sampled by jugular venepuncture without tranquilization. Mean values were haemoglobin (16.0 g/dl), packed cell volume (44.6%), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (35.8 g/dl), total plasma protein (66.0 g/l). fibrinogen (4.8 g/l) and white blood-cell numbers (5.80 x 10(9)/l). Differential white blood-cell counts were neutrophils (53.9%), eosinophils (4.8%), basophils (3.0%), lymphocytes (37.2%) and monocytes (1.1%). There were no significant differences in any parameter measured between sexes or between age groups three to eight months, nine to eighteen months, or older.

Biochemical and Haematological Values in Venous Blood of Farmed Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) at High Altitude

“…The average WBC value in our study was consistent with that in red deer described by Upcott and Herbert (1965), but a higher value was determined by Wilson and Pauli (1982). Differential WBC counts varied markedly according to these authors.…”

“…Differential WBC counts varied markedly according to these authors. In our study the percentage of neutrophils was lower than that recorded by Wolfe et al (1982), Wilson and Pauli (1982), whereas percentage of lymphocytes was higher. The values of other granulocytes and monocytes determined by us were similar to those described elsewhere on many deer species (Peterson and Pedersen 1975).…”

“…The values of PCV and Hb in farmed red deer with xylazine sedation were lower than those in physically restrained animals (Cross et al 1988). Wilson and Pauli (1982) concluded that samples collected from fully conscious deer are likely to produce higher concentrations of haemoglobin and values of PCV. According to Turner and Hodgetts (1959) the spleen of the red deer has a bilayered capsule with substantial amounts of smooth muscle, indicating that this has red cell storage as a major function.…”

Haematological and serum biochemical reference values in free-ranging red deer (Cervus elaphus atlanticus)

“…Stress and tissue repair among the stags can partly explain the differences. Total serum protein has been found to be higher among adults than calves and young animals (Reid & Towers, 1985;Wilson & Pauli, 1982). In the present study we found significantly lower values in the globulin fraction among calves (Table 4).…”

“…Considerable information on haematology and serum biochemistry for farmed red deer (Cervus elaphus) is available from New Zealand (Wilson & Pauli, 1982;Wilson & Pauli, 1983;Cross et al, 1988), Australia (Agar & Godwin, 1992) and Europe (Zomborszky et al, 1996;Peinado et al, 1999). The establishment of deer farming and the concomitant recognition of illness in individuals and of production-limiting health have highlighted the need for an evaluation of blood constituents as an aid for diagnosis.…”