EFFECT OF DRIED GRAPE POMACE ADDITION INTO FEED RATION OF SHEEP ON LEUCOCYTES

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of addition of dried grape pomace meal into the feed ration of sheep’s on leucocytes characteristics. As an experimental animals eight wethers of Ile de France breed were used. The study was divided to the three time intervals according to feed ration which was fed. First time interval lasted 19 days and feed ration consisted of meadow hay, soy bean meal, wheat meal and mineral supplements. Second time interval lasted 12 days and started immediately after the end of the first time interval and feed ration was the same as during firs time interval, but supplemented with dried grape pomace meal. The addition of dried grape pomace meal was in amount of 1% of feed ration dry matter. Third time interval lasted 12 days and started immediately after the end of the second time interval and feed ration was the same as in the second time interval but the addition of dried grape pomace meal was in amount of 2% of feed ration dry matter. During the last day of each time period the sampling of blood into EDTA tubes was realized. Total white blood cell (WBC), lymphocytes count (LYM), medium size cells count (MID) and granulocytes (GRA) as well as its percentages were determined by hematology analyzer Abacus Junior Vet (Diatron, Austria). Between the first and second blood sampling the increase of WBC and LYM, as well as decrease of GRA was detected. Between the second and third sampling time the decrease of WBC, LYM and GRA was detected. MID was on the same value in all three sampling times. Significant effect of feed ration composition was detected on LYM (P<0.05) and GRA (P<0.01). Increase of LYM after the addition of 1% of dried grape pomace meal into the feed ration has to be verified in further experiments. If this increase of LYM is confirmed, then it can be used by cows and small ruminants for better passive immunisation of their offspring.