Haematological Parameters of Apparently Healthy West African Dwarf Goats in Ibadan, South West Nigeria

This study establishes reference haematological parameters for clinically healthy West African Dwarf (WAD) goats maintained under smallholder management conditions in Ibadan, Oyo State, located in Nigeria's South West geopolitical zone. Accurate reference ranges for blood parameters are essential for the clinical diagnosis of anaemia, infection, and metabolic disorders in small ruminants, yet most available reference values were established in temperate breeds under different environmental and nutritional conditions and may not apply reliably to Nigerian local breeds. A cross-sectional study design was used, involving 120 WAD goats (60 male, 60 female) selected from smallholder farms and markets in Ibadan metropolis. Blood samples were collected by jugular venipuncture and analysed for packed cell volume, haemoglobin concentration, red blood cell count, white blood cell count, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, and differential leucocyte counts using an automated haematology analyser. All animals were examined clinically prior to blood collection to confirm health status. Findings revealed that mean haemoglobin concentration was 9.8 g/dL and mean PCV was 31.4 percent, with significant differences between sexes for several parameters. Females had significantly lower PCV and RBC counts than males, likely reflecting reproductive physiological differences. These values differ meaningfully from published temperate breed reference ranges, supporting the need for breed-specific and region-specific reference data. Keywords: haematology, West African Dwarf goat, reference values, Ibadan, Nigeria.