EFFECTS OF STAGE OF LACTATION AND PARITY ON BLOOD VOLUME AND MILK YIELD IN WEST AFRICAN DWARF SHEEP

32 PAGES (5845 WORDS) Animal Physiology Project
ABSTRACT

A study on the effects of stage of lactation and parity on blood volume and milk yield in West African Dwarf sheep was carried out using (12) lactating West African Dwarf sheep for twelve (12) weeks of lactation. In the second week of the experiment, the dams were weighed using pocket balance scale. Evans blue dye solution was injected into the animal through the jugular vein and waited for 10-15 minutes before bleeding the animal through the same media. The milk yield were measured in volume(ml) and weight(g), Packed cells volume, blood volume analyzed and blood volume calculated were determined for second week of lactation. The same method was carried out on the eleventh week of lactation. The results obtained showed that Packed cells volume (PCV), Blood volume analyzed (BVA) and Blood volume calculated (BVC) were not significantly (P>0.05) affected by stage of lactation and parity of the lactating ewes, but stage of lactation and parity had a significant (P