Hematological profile of male sheep raised on Rote Island during the rainy and dry seasons

Abstract

Background: Seasonal changes in tropical dry regions such as Rote Island can affect the physiological condition of livestock, including hematological parameters that serve as important indicators of animal health. However, baseline data on the hematological profile of Rote sheep raised in this area are still limited. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the hematological profile of male Rote sheep raised on Rote Island during the rainy and dry seasons. Methods: The study was conducted from June to November 2025 in Lekunik Village, Rote Ndao Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. Fifteen clinically healthy male sheep (n = 15) were used in a repeated-measures design, where blood samples were collected during both the rainy and dry seasons, resulting in a total of 30 samples. Approximately 2 mL of blood was collected from the jugular vein into Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) tubes. Hematological parameters were analyzed using an EDAN H60 Vet analyzer, including erythrocyte counts, hemoglobin, hematocrit, erythrocyte indices, platelet count, total leukocytes, and differential leukocytes. Data were analyzed using paired T-test or paired Wilcoxon test with a 95% confidence level. Results: Most hematological parameters did not differ significantly (p>0.05) between seasons, except for mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), which was significantly higher during the dry season (p<0.05). Higher occurrences of anemia and hematological abnormalities were observed during the rainy season. Eosinophilia was the most dominant finding in both seasons, suggesting chronic parasitic exposure may associated with communal grazing systems and the absence of deworming programs. Conclusion: Overall, seasonal variation had limited effects on the hematological profile of male Rote sheep. These findings provide baseline hematological reference data for health evaluation and disease diagnosis in local Rote sheep.