Influence of Elective Cesarean Calving (with and without Dexamethasone Induction) on the Erythrogram and Iron Serum Profiles in Nellore Calves

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The use of elective cesarean section has become common practice in double muscled breeds of in vitro fertilized cattle and cloned calves, particularly before the onset of labor, when it is known that cesarean section negatively affects neonatal respiration and metabolic adaptation in humans and calves. However, there is a lack of information on the effects of cesarean section on the erythrogram of calves. The objectives of this study are to characterize the hematological profile of Nellore calves born spontaneously or by elective C-section (with or without induction with dexamethasone) and to verify the frequency of anemia in these animals. Our data indicate that in the first day of life there was a decrease in the number of red blood cells, hemoglobin rates, and values of the globular volume regardless of the type of birth; however, the recovery of these hematological values happened faster in zebu calves born spontaneously than in the group born by elective C-section (with or without induction). The results suggest that iron supplementation in the first month of life in Nellore calves that underwent cesarean section could be recommended to prevent the iron deficiency anemia observed in this study. ABSTRACT: The aim of the present study is to evaluate the erythrogram and iron serum profiles of neonatal calves born spontaneously or born by elective cesarean section with or without dexamethasone induction. The research was performed on 38 newborn Nellore calves. Three groups of calves were assigned according to the type of birth: calves born by spontaneous vaginal calving (n = 10), calves born by elective cesarean section without inducing labor (n = 14), and calves born by elective cesarean section with labor induction with dexamethasone (n = 14). Blood samples to assess red blood cell count (RBC), hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), concentration of mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCHC), serum iron (SFe), total capacity to bind iron to transferrin (TIBIC), and transferrin saturation index (TSI) were performed at calving (0, 3, 6, and 12 h of life) and on 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, 15, and 30 days of life. Regardless of the experimental group (calves born spontaneously, or born by elective cesarean section with or without dexamethasone induction), in the first day of life there was a decrease in the number of red blood cells, hemoglobin rates, and values of the globular volume. In the period of the first 10 days of life, animals from spontaneous vaginal delivery quickly recovered values of erythrocytes, hemoglobin, and packed cell volume, whereas animals born by elective C-section (induced and uninduced) did not recover as quickly in their rates of hemoglobin and packed cell volume values. In calves born by elective C-section (induced and uninduced), it was observed in their period between 10 and 30 days of life that the MCV and MCH were reduced by passing the presenting microcytic hypochromic when compared with calves obtained by spontaneous vaginal delivery. In the period between 10 and 30 days of life, the levels of SFe and TSI in animals born by elective C-section (induced and uninduced) are significantly lower. The differences in the erythrogram values between Nellore calves born spontaneously and those by elective C-section with or without induction must be considered consequent to the process of neonatal adaptation to extrauterine life. Iron supplementation in the first month of life in calves from cesarean could be recommended to prevent anemia of this iron deficiency.