Determination of Hematological Parameters of Bunaji Cattle Slaughtered in Sokoto Modern Abattoir, Sokoto State, Nigeria

Cattle are a significant part of Nigeria's meat supply and livestock production, with beef being the most consumed meat, followed by sheep and goat meat. Currently, the population of cattle in Nigeria is estimated at 15.3 million, with over 90 percent owned by traditional producers in the northern regions. Indigenous breeds of cattle include the Red Bororo, White Fulani, and Sokoto Gudali. This study was aimed at establishing the normal reference hematological parameters of Bunaji cattle in Sokoto. The result obtained will be useful in determining the normal reference hematological value of Bunaji cattle in Sokoto, Nigeria, and will serve as an aid in the clinical diagnosis of various metabolic and pathological disorders, which can unfavorably affect the productive and reproductive performance of cattle, leading to heavy economic losses. An experimental study (random sampling) was conducted at the Sokoto modern abattoir for one month. Blood samples of 60 apparently healthy Bunaji cattle (male and female) ranging in age from 2 to 3 years, which were brought for slaughter, were collected using EDTA, and a complete hemogram was performed. The results obtained showed, mean of PCV (%), Hb (g/dl), RBC (x106/mm6), WBC (x103/mm3), Neutrophils (%), Lymphocytes (%), Monocytes (%), Eosinophils (%), Basophils (%), MCV (fl), MCH (pg), MCHC (g/dl) were 31.60±7.17, 10.93±2.54, 6.34±2.91, 6.62±1.70, 60.23±11.26, 37.25±11.75, 2.25±1.23, 0.07±0.25, 0±0.00, 54.04±65.49, 18.88±6.09, 34.95±4.73 respectively. It is concluded that all the hematological parameters obtained from this research were within the normal reference range with the exception of neutrophils, which had little variation.