Assessing total erythrocyte count as a potential attribute for estimating hemoglobin in Cholistani cattle

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Hematology
• Animal Science
• Comparative Physiology

Background:

• Accurate hemoglobin (Hb) estimation is crucial for diagnosing anemia and assessing cattle health.
• The traditional method of estimating Hb concentration by multiplying total erythrocyte count (TEC) by three is widely used but may lack specificity across different cattle breeds.
• Cholistani cattle, a distinct breed, require specific hematological reference values for precise health monitoring.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the existence of a constant interrelationship between TEC and Hb concentration in Cholistani cattle.
• To evaluate the potential of using TEC for estimating Hb levels in this specific cattle breed.
• To develop a more accurate, field-applicable formula for Hb estimation in Cholistani cattle.

Main Methods:

• Blood samples from 264 Cholistani cattle (males, females; young, adults) were analyzed using a veterinary hematology analyzer for TEC and direct Hb (HbD) measurement.
• A calculated Hb value (HbC) was derived by multiplying TEC by three.
• Linear regression analysis and scatterplots were used to compare HbD, HbC, and a newly derived corrected Hb (CHb). Level of agreement was assessed using Cronbach's alpha and intraclass correlation coefficients.

Main Results:

• A significant difference was observed between the directly measured Hb (HbD) and the conventionally calculated Hb (HbC) (P ≤ 0.05).
• A non-significant difference was found between HbD and the newly derived corrected Hb (CHb) (P ≥ 0.05).
• The agreement between HbD and CHb (Cronbach's alpha = 0.682) was substantially higher than between HbD and HbC (Cronbach's alpha = 0.559).

Conclusions:

• The conventional method of estimating Hb concentration as three times the TEC is not valid for Cholistani cattle.
• A newly developed formula, Hb (g/dL) = 0.66(TEC) + 6.1, provides a more accurate estimation of Hb from TEC in Cholistani cattle blood.
• This formula, utilizing hemocytometry for TEC, can benefit veterinary professionals, researchers, and academics, particularly in resource-poor settings.