Author(s): Chukwuemeka Okere and Ibrahim Algherair

Abstract: The objective of this study was to investigate breed and body conformation influences on the serum biochemical and hematological parameters of Kiko-meat and Nubian-dairy goat bucks. Most body conformation traits were significantly higher (P<0.01) in Kiko than in the Nubian bucks. The hemoglobin (HGB) values ranged from (9.1 to 12.4 g/dl and 7.4 to 10.0 g/dl with the Kiko bucks also having the highest value (P<0.05). The mean concentration value of glucose for Kiko and Nubian bucks were 69.2 and 68.8 mg/dl, respectively. Body weight (BWT) showed negative correlation with WBC (r = -0.34), however, was highly correlated with RBC (r = 0.73), lowly correlated with platelets counts (PLT) (r = -0.13), negatively correlated with Mononucleosis (MONO) (r = -0.55), and showed positive relationship with mean cell hemoglobin (MCH) (r = 0.41) and eosinophil counts (EOS) (r = 0.50) and Hematocrit (HCT) (r = 0.66) respectively. The hematology and serum biochemistry data in the present study are the first reference values obtained for Kiko and Nubian goats raised under in Alabama under semi-intensive production system, and will provide goat producers the ability manage and monitor health and disease status of Kiko meat and Nubian dairy goat bucks in Alabama.