Packed Cell Volume and Total Protein as Rapid Diagnostic Tools for Assessing Nutritional Status in Cattle at Maiduguri Abattoir, Borno State

Rapid and cost-effective diagnostic tools for assessing nutritional status in slaughter cattle have practical utility in resource-limited settings. This study evaluated the diagnostic performance of packed cell volume and total serum protein as indicators of nutritional status in cattle presented at Maiduguri Central Abattoir, Borno State, North East Nigeria. One hundred and twenty Zebu cattle were enrolled and classified into three body condition score categories: poor (1 to 2), moderate (3), and good (4 to 5). Blood samples were collected immediately ante-mortem by jugular venipuncture and analysed for packed cell volume using microhaematocrit centrifugation and for serum total protein by refractometry. Post-mortem organ findings were recorded to correlate biochemical markers with pathological observations. Packed cell volume was significantly lower in poor body condition cattle with mean values of 21.3% versus 32.8% in good body condition animals. Total serum protein demonstrated a parallel trend, with hypoproteinaemia prevalent among poor body condition score animals. Positive correlations were established between both parameters and body condition score, kidney fat index, and heart girth measurements. These findings validate packed cell volume and total serum protein as useful field-applicable indicators of cattle nutritional status in abattoir-based surveillance programmes in North East Nigeria. Keywords: packed cell volume, total protein, nutritional status, body condition score, Borno.