DETERMINACIÓN DE VALORES DE REFERENCIA HEMATOLÓGICOS EN BÚFALAS (Bubalus bubalis) PREPARTO Y POSTPARTO EN UNA UNIDAD DE PRODUCCIÓN EN EL SUR DEL LAGO DE MARACAIBO, VENEZUELA Haematological Reference Values Determination in Prepartum and Postpartum Female Buffaloes (Bubalus Bubalis) in a Production Unit at the South of Maracaibo Lake, Venezuela

With the aim to determine the hematology values in crossbred buffalo cows during pre and postpartum, a study was carried out in a commercial farm, located in Catatumbo municipality of Zulia state, Venezuela. One-hundred twelve blood samples were obtained in sterile tubes containing anticoagulant (EDTA). Hematocrit (Ht L/L), hemoglobin concentration (Hb g/L), leukocytes (WBCx10 9 /L) and the differential (x10 9 /L) were measured. The hematology values were compared in accordance with the physiologic condition, age and parity. In the pre and postpartum the values of Ht and Hb were 123.6±15.2; 0.37±0.04 and 119.6±13.5; 0.36±0.04, respectively (P>0.05). WBC values were 10.93±3.11 and 7.71±0.48, to pre and postpartum respectively (P 0.05). No significant differences were observed in first-calving and second-calving buffalo cows to values of Hb, Ht, RGB N and E (P>0.05). Values of L were significantly differ between first-calving and second-calving buffalo cows (4.03±1.57 and 3.55±1.23 respectively, P 0.05), while RGB values differs significantly between 3-4 year-old and 5-6 year-old buffalo cows (9.48±2.82 and 8.29±1.95 respectively, P<0.05). This study gives a contribution to the knowledge of the hematology changes experimented by buffalo cows as a consequence to physiologic variables such calving, age and parity.