Evaluation of Anemia in Calves up to 4 Months of Age in Holstein Dairy Herds

Occurrence of anemia in suckling dairy calves up to 4 months old with regard to age and sex susceptibility was investigated in Urmia, Iran. From 25 dairy herds, 164 calves including 97 females and 67 males were selected. Five ml jugular vein blood was collected from calves into 2 ml with EDTA and 3 ml without EDTA tubes. Blood parameters were evaluated for hematocrit (PCV), hemoglobin (Hb), erythrocytes (RBC), leucocytes (WBC), total plasma protein, iron (Fe), total iron banding capacity (TIBC), neutrophils, lymphocytes, MCV, MCH, and MCHC. Anemia was classified according to the PCV values, over 24%, 20-23.99%, 12-19.99% and less than 12% as normal, mild, moderate and severe anemia. The percentage of anemia in calves was 17.7% including 14% mild and 3.7% was moderate anemia (P<0.05). The percentage of moderate and mild anemia in female calves was greater than in male calves but the differences was not significant. Significant age differences (P<0.05) were observed at 3 months of age for moderate and up to 2 months old for mild anemia. Mean Hb, RBC, Fe, lymphocytes, TIBC and MCV decrease by increasing the anemia symptom. Mean WBC, neutrophils, MCHC and protein increase by increasing the anemia sign. The differences were significant (P<0.05) only for PCV, Hb, RBC and MCHC. In conclusion, calves reveal a mild anemia, which is not related to Fe deficiency. Gender difference was not obvious in anemia while the age of 3 months is the critical age for moderate anemia occurrence in Urmia dairy calves that prevention procedures must be considered.