Crossbreeding of exotic and indigenous cattle in Nigeria--haematological correlates

The blood values of the German Brown, N'Dama and their three-quarter, half and quarter hybrids were studied to ascertain if and how some haematological parameters changed with crossbreeding. It was found that the red blood cell (RBC) and white blood cell (WBC) count and packed cell volume percentage (PCV) were significantly higher (P less than 0.01) in the N'Dama than in the German Brown; the crosses had values which were intermediate as compared to the two parent breeds. Generally, the changes in the mean blood values paralleled changes in the expected genotypes resulting from crossbreeding of the two parent breeds. The tendency of the blood values to change in direct proportion to the degree of N'Dama contribution was strongest for the WBC, followed by the PCV and RBC, respectively. A small random sample for leucocyte differential count did not reveal any differences amongst the genotypic groups.