122
Composition of the Blood of Farm Animals in India
Mean corpuscular volume. The average monthly
values showed highly significant variations, but
the means of individual animals did not differ
significantly. Monthly variation was similar to
that of cell-volume.
Mean corpuscular hæmoglobin. Highly signi-
ficant differences existed among the monthly
averages as well as in individual animals. The
values were higher in winter than summer.
Mean corpuscular hæmoglobin concentration.
The average values showed no significant variation
in the various months or in the individual animals.
The change in both hæmoglobin and cell-volume
was shown to be proportional.
Iron. There were highly significant differences
among the monthly averages and in individual
animals. No seasonal variation was noted by
Hammersma [1937] in South African animals.
Considering the close relationship between
hæmoglobin and iron, it might have been expected
that variation in iron would be similar to that of
hæmoglobin.
Inorganic phosphorus. There was no significant
difference among the monthly averages but mean
values of the individual animal differed signifi-
cantly.
Sugar. The mean values showed no significant
differences in the monthly observations or in
individual animals.
Cholesterol. Neither the monthly averages nor
the means of the individual animals varied signi-
ficantly. Ghosh [1933] came to a similar conclu-
sion from a statistical study of the seasonal varia-
tion in human blood.
Calcium. There were highly significant differ-
ences in both the means of monthly observations
and in the averages of individual animals. Month-
ly values gradually increased with rise of tempera-
ture in summer and gradually decreased with the
advance of winter. Hammersma [1937] noted
similar changes in cattle, but the difference was
not statistically significant. Craige and Godd
[1941] found the calcium content of horse's serum
to be at its maximum in summer.
Magnesium. Highly significant differences
existed among the monthly averages as well as in
individual animals. Duncun, Lightfoot and Huff-
man [1940] noted also that this constituent
differed significantly from month to month,
winter values being greater than summer ones.
Protein and non-protein nitrogen. Neither the
average monthly values nor the means of individual
animals were found to be significantly different.
Hammersma's [1937] findings were similar to ours,
SUMMARY
Whole-blood and serum of a group of normal
cows were analysed for morphological and chemical
constituents over a period of 12 months. Oxalated
blood was examined for red cells, white cells,
hæmoglobin, cell-volume, iron, inorganic phos-
phorus, sugar and cholesterol. Calcium, magne-
sium, protein and non-protein nitrogen were
determined in serum. Different corpuscular values
were calculated from red cell counts, hæmoglobin
and cell volume. In the morphological series,
hæmoglobin and cell-volume exhibited significant
seasonal variations, whereas in the chemical
series monthly averages for iron, calcium and
magnesium showed significant differences. In
the former series, the average values were highest in
winter, whereas in the latter series they were
highest in summer. The remaining constituents,
both in the morphological and chemical series,
showed no significant differences in their monthly
averages. Practically all the constituents differed
significantly in individual animals.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We wish to express our gratitude to Dr K. C.
Sen, Officer-in-charge of this section, for keen
interest and helpful advice during the whole
period of observation. The statistical data were
checked by Mr S. Sen.
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