184
Blood Changes in Cattle fed on protein-deficient diet
Red cells. The average red cell count in the control
group (Table I) was 7.7 millions (minimum 5.8 ;
maximum 9.8), while that in the protein-deficient
group was 6.48 millions (minimum 5.8 ; maximum
8.4) per c.mm. These observations are in confor-
mity with those of Weech et al [1937] on dogs and
of Kyer and Bethal [1938] on rats, though Orten
and Orten [1940] found the erythrocyte count to
be nearly normal in rats fed on a low nitrogen diet
from the time of weaning up to 100 days of age.
White cells. The average white cell count was
7.7 thousands per c. mm. (minimum 5.7 : maximum
9.7) in normal animals as compared with 7.14
thousands (minimum 6.4 ; maximum 8.0) in the
low-protein group (Table I).
White cell per cent distribution. From a perusal
of the differential leucocytic counts in Table I,
it appears that there is no significant difference
between the normal and the protein-deficient group
except in eosinophiles. Ordinarily, it might indicate
helminthiasis, but repeated examinations of the
faeces of the animals revealed no helminth ova.
Cell volume. The average cell volume per cent
(Table I) was 50.6 (minimum 43 ; maximum 57)
in the normal animals and 45.4 (minimum 37 ;
maximum 58) in the protein-deficient animals. The
results obtained by Shelburne [1934] and Weech
et al [1937] in dogs, Kyer and Bethall [1938] in
rats are in agreement with our findings on bullocks.
Corpuscular values. The average values for mean
corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hæmoglobin,
and mean corpuscular hæmoglobin concentration
(Table I) are 68.7 Cu µ (minimum 43.8 ; maximum
86.2), 14.9 ΓΓ (minimum 10.2; maximum 19.2)
and 21.8 per cent. (minimum 20.2; maxi-
mum 23.4) respectively in the normal animals
and 66.1 Cu µ (minimum 55 ; maximum 81.0); 13.39
γγ (minimum 10.37 ; maximum 16.7) and 19.66
per cent (minimum 17.06; maximum 22.5) in
the protein-deficient animals.
Sugar. Blood sugar was determined by Host
and Hatlehost's [1920] method. Average values
for the control group, as shown in Table II, art
75.6 mg. per cent (minimum 68.8 ; maximum 81.1)
as compared with 70.0 mg. (minimum 67.1 ; maxi
mum 72.4) in the protein-deficient group. Russel
and Weber [1934] found no significant difference in
the sugar contents of the blood of two groups of
hens receiving diets containing 12.7 and 19.1 per
cent of protein respectively. Wang et al. [1930-31]
however, found a rise from 82.5 to 86.9 mg. per
cent when normal young women were kept on a
low-nitrogen diet.
Haemoglobin. For the estimation of hæmoglobin
Newcomer's [1919, 1923] technique was followed
The average haemoglobin content (Table II) was
lower in the protein-deficient group. These findings
are in conformity with those of Weech et al. [1937]
on dogs, Kyer and Bethal [1938] on pregnant rats
and Orten and Orten [1940] on growing rats,
McCance et al. [1938] on women, and Mackay et al.
[1942] on men, women and children.
Iron. The iron content of the blood, as estimated
by the method of Wong [1928], was 34.2 (minimum
30.2 ; maximum 39.2) and 40.2 (minimum 33.2;
maximum 45.2) mg. per cent in the portein-defi-
cient and control groups respectively (Table
II).
TABLE II
Constituents of blood and serum in normal and protein-deficient bullocks
—
Whole blood
(mg.per 100c.c.)
Sugar . .
Hæmoglobin .
Iron . .
Total cholesterol .
Strum
(mg.per100 c.c.)
Calcium
Magnesium .
Inorganic
phos-
phorus
Normal animals
1
75.9
10.9
45.2
..
11.2
2.80
3.96
2
79.4
10.1
35.2
..
11.0
2.63
3.92
3
81.1
10'0
33.2
190
10.0
2.73
6.20
4
77.6
11.7
42.6
182
11.0
3.06
4.36
5
68.8
11.9
43.0
195
9.6
2.78
3.39
6
70.6
11.5
42.2
177
9.4
2.61
3.70
Aver-
age
75.6
11.0
40.2
186
10.4
2.78
4.26
Protein deficient animals
1
72.4
9.9
32.5
121
8.6
..
4.79
2
70.6
8.3
30.2
114
9.9
3.15
5.67
3
67.1
9.9
31.2
109
8.2
1.76
4.15
4
68.8
9.3
33.4
110
10.2
2.94
3.85
5
68.8
8.2
39.2
125
9.9
2.46
3.91
6
68.8
8.1
38.6
111
10.3
2.70
4.05
7
68.8
8.5
..
..
10.1
2.75
3.32
8
72.4
9.0
..
..
10.3
2.04
3.56
9
72.4
8.6
..
..
10.0
2.52
3.75
Aver-
age
70.0
8. 9
34.2
115
9.7
2.54
4.11