A study of some environmental effects on the physiology of jersey and friesian cattle in the lake Crescent area of Uganda

It is hypothesized that Bos taurus breeds of dairy cattle are subjected to stress, either directly or indirectly, by the environment of the Lake Crescent region of Uganda. The response to this stress is examined by observing its effect on some blood constituents. The examination of the data produced the following results: (a). The definition of the usual values for some blood constituents of Jersey and Friesian cows in the Lake Crescent region. (b) The haemoglobin and packed cell volume levels of the Jersey animal at 10.6 gms% and 31.6% respectively were lower than published results for known temperature conditions. The corresponding Friesian results, 12.1 gms% and 34.6%, were in better agreement, though still on the low side. The values for the total erythrocyte count of both Jersey and Friesian animals were in good agreement with published results from England. The total leucocytes counts of the Jersey and Friesian animals were in agreement with some published results. (c)The various blood factors all appeared to have a reasonably normal distribution, though a skew to the left was noted in most cases. (d) The blood picture of jersey animals probably changes with age. (e) The origin of the animal, whether from a tropical or temperate environment, has no apparent effect on the erythrocyte picture. (f) The main effect of climate and of milk production was on the haemoglobin and packed cell volume results. (g) There was shown to exist an interaction between pregnancy and lactation, acting on the haemoglobin values, the packed cell volume results, and the total neutrophil counts. (h) The changes in the blood factors recorded for the Danish Friesian in-calf heifers (KDP) on introduction to the environment of the Lake Crescent region were different from those noted for the Danish Friesian calves (EDF). (i) The results of the KDF heifers and EDF calves showed considerable differences from the results obtained for the Kabanyilo cows (KKF) bred locally. (j) The measurement of stress via the blood picture, and the association of milk production and the blood picture are discussed.