Analysis of age-related differences in hematological traits of Hereford cattle breed

The paper presents the results of the analysis of hematological parameters of Hereford cattle bred in the south of Western Siberia in two adjacent generations. The animals were in the same conditions on the foothill pastures. Both absolute values and correlations between hematological signs in the generation of “mothers” and “daughters” were analyzed. In order to reduce the dimensionality of the data and visualize the differences between groups in a multidimensional space, the principal component method (MGK) was used. Differences in hematological parameters of Hereford cattle of different ages have been established. Animals of adjacent generations kept in the same conditions, similar in genotype and differing only in age, nevertheless have significant differences not only in absolute values of hematological parameters, but also form different correlations between signs, including those responsible for the functioning of the immune system. The principal component method we used also confirms the tendency of differences between animals of two different generations (ages). The data obtained can be used in practice to improve herd management systems for beef cattle. Thus, a decrease in the number of white blood cells may indicate a weakening of the immune system. Thus, the results of the study are of practical importance for improving the efficiency of beef cattle breeding. Thus, blood counts of cattle characterize not only the state of the body of individuals, but also are markers of changes occurring in the body of animals with age and allow better control of the general condition of valuable breeding stock.