Japanese Journal of Sheep Science

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Using Finnish Landrace and Suffolk sheep, an investigation was undertaken on the association between hemoglobin (Hb) or potassium (Ke) types and blood parameters related to the iron metabolism. No significant differences were in the plasma iron concentration, total iron binding capacity (TIBC) and percentage saturation of transferrin between the breed of sheep examined. Also no significant correlations were observed between the plasma iron concentration or TIBC and Hb, potassium and sodium concentration in the red cells, respertively. The plasma iron concentration and TIBC of the Hb A animals were significantly lower than those of the Hb B animals in Finnish Landrace (P < 0.05) Hb AB animals tended to have a higher plasma iron concentration than Hb A animals, but not to a significant extent. However, the Hb AB animals were not significantly different in TIBC from the Hb A or Hb B animals, respectively. For Suffolk sheep, the two blood parameters of Hb B animals tended to be greater than those of the Hb AB animals, like Finnish Landrace sheep. Each of the Hb type sheep had the same degree in percentage saturation of transferrin in both breeds of sheep. No significant difference in each of the blood parameters between Ke types was observed. These observations demonstrate that genetic Hb polymorphism and plasma iron or TIBC are associated in sheep to a significant degree, and these parameters are seen as being in the order of Hb A < Hb AB < Hb B.

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