Differences in the Concentration of Potassium and the Type of Haemoglobin Between Strains and Sexes of Merino Sheep

Abstract

The concentration of K+ in, and the hemoglobin type of, the erythrocytes of 5 strains of Merino sheep have been determined. The gene frequency for high K+ and hemoglobin type A in each strain has been determined. Strong non-Peppin Merino sheep had the highest gene frequency for high K+ (0.16) and the highest mean erythrocyte potassium concentration (approx. 15.7 m-equiv./l) as compared with 0.05 and approximately 12.0, respectively, for the other strains examined. A higher concentration of K+ in the whole blood of rams as compared with ewes (P 0.1) was found. The gene frequency for sheep hemoglobin type A was determined on 4 strains and a significantly lower frequency found in Peppin strains compared with non-Peppin strains. The findings are discussed and their possible significance in relation to lambing percentages in the Merino outlined. The possibility that an erythrocyte potassium concentration of approximately 12.0 m-equiv/l, associated with type A hemoglobin is an advantage in sheep in Australia is suggested.