Aggregation of Basic Regular Blood Elements in Calves during the Milk-feeding Phase

Aim: This study aimed to examine the aggregation activity of basic regular blood elements of calves during the milk-feeding phase.

Study Design: The study was initiated in 39 black and white breed calves, which were examined at the ages of 11, 15, 20, 25 and 30 daysat Kolos farm in the Fatezh district of the Kursk region, Russia, in spring, 2014.

Methods: We used biochemical, haematological and statistical methods of investigation. We estimated the intensity of lipid peroxidation (LPO) in the plasma, as well as the aggregation of erythrocytes, platelets and neutrophils.

Results: It was found that the calves had an upwards trend of spontaneous erythrocyte aggregation during the milk-feeding phase. This was identified by a slight upwards trend in the total quantity of erythrocytes in an aggregate, an increase in the quantity of the aggregates themselves and a decreased number of disaggregated erythrocytes. All the calves had a trend towards an increase of platelet aggregation during the milk-feeding phase; at the age of 11 days, their period of platelet aggregation development under collagen impact was equal to 30.7±0.12s. This decreased to some extent during the study. A similar healthy animal platelet aggregation was observed for adenosine diphosphate (to the end of the phase - 38.1±0.15s) and ristomicin (to the end of the phase - 46.2±0.17s). In the later period, platelet aggregation that was developed with thrombin or adrenaline also showed trends towards slight acceleration during the study period, and was equal to 51.3±0.18s and 98.0±0.34s, respectively, at the end of the study. The calves also had a slight trend towards increasing neutrophil aggregation during the milk-feeding phase; it increased by 4.6% with lectin, by 6.4%, with concanavalin A and by 3.2% with phytogemagglutinin.

Conclusion: During the milk-feeding phase, the calves showed low LPO activity in plasma, with a slight upwards trend. These calves, aged between 11 and 30 days, had little increase in the aggregation of regular blood elements.