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Comparative Gas Carrying Capacities of Blood from Brahman and Hereford Cattle¹

Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, Gainesville ³

Abstract

The carbon dioxide and oxygen contents, oxygen capacity and percent oxygen saturation of venous blood are presented for 36 Hereford (Bos taurus) and 36 Brahman (Bos indicus) female bovines. The animals were divided according to two breeds, three ages (calves, heifers and mature cows) and two levels of dietary protein (100% and 50% of the N.R.C. recommended allowances). Venous blood from Hereford cattle had significantly more carbon dioxide than that from Brahmans. Calf blood had less oxygen than blood from heifers or cows.

Oxygen capacity expressed on both the total volume and body weight basis decreased while the percent oxygen saturation of blood increased with age. A 50% reduction in dietary protein did not affect the blood gases studied when expressed in volumes percent. However, when oxygen capacity was expressed on a body weight basis, animals receiving the recommended protein allowance had a significantly lower oxygen capacity. This effect was probably the result of differences in body weight and composition.

¹ Florida Agricultural Experiment Station Journal Series No. 1450.

² Present address: Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama.

³ Department of Animal Science.