Changes in the blood biochemical and haematological profile of neonatal calves with age

Fourteen calves were used to investigate the changes from birth to 83 days of age in the concentrations of serum albumin, alkaline phosphatase. beta-h ydroxybutyrate, plasma cortisol, serum creatine kinase, creatinine, iron, p lasma fibrinogen, serum gamma-glutamyl transferase, plasma glucose, haptogl obin, serum non-esterified fatty acids, total protein, transferrin, triglyc erides, urea and gamma globulin; the haematological variables measured were : basophils, eosinophils, haematocrit, haemoglobin, lymphocytes, mean cell haemoglobin, mean cell haemoglobin concentration, mean cell volume, monocyt es, band neutrophils, neutrophils. platelets, red blood cells and white blo od cells. The changes are presented as a series of graphs and the values ar e discussed in relation to the published reference ranges for adult cattle. Two populations of calves were identified which gave rise to a bimodal dis tribution for some of the variables. Differences in haematocrit, haemoglobi n and red blood cell counts were apparent at birth, with raised values for these measurements being associated with an increased white blood cell and neutrophil count between three and 27 days of age.