EFFECT OF AIR AMMONIA ON SOME HEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS IN SHEEP SUBJECTED TO IMMOBILIZATION OR SHEARING STRESS

IVAN YANCHEV,, MARINA DYAVOLOVA, DIMITAR GUDEV, PENKA MONEVA, DESISLAVA VELIKOVA

Abstract: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of ammonia on some hematological parameters in sheep subjected either to shearing or immobilization stress. To achieve our aim, we conducted two experiments. In one experiment, sheep of the Bulgarian synthetic population were allocated into 2 groups - control and experimental. Control animals were kept indoor with the barn door closed during the night. Ammonia range in the morning, before opening the barn doors reached as high value as 60 ppm. Maximum ambient temperature outside was 250C. The second experiment examined the effect of immobilization on the same hematological indices in two breeds of sheep (Bulgarian synthetic population and Ile de France breeds) reared indoor under high ammonia level (up to 68 ppm during the night). Experimental sheep kept under high ammonia level had higher percentage of heterophils after shearing as compared to the control group. Basal level of hematocrit was significantly lower in the experimental group relative to the control group against the background of unchanged red blood cell count. Also, white blood cell count in the control group, unlike that in the experimental group, increased significantly after shearing. Immobilization under high ammonia level did not cause any change in the investigated hematological parameters in both breeds of sheep. However, Ile de France breed had higher basal and stress-induced levels of hematocrit and lower basal percentage of heterophils relative to Bulgarian synthetic dairy sheep. It is concluded that ammonia modified adrenal response to shearing as judged by the change of heterophil to lymphocyte ratio.

Keywords: ammonia; heterophils; immobilization; lymphocytes; shearing; sheep

Date published: 2023-02-01