Complete blood count and biochemistry reference intervals for healthy adult sheep in the northeastern United States

Background Reference intervals (RIs) for routine clinicopathologic data in sheep are sparse. The authors sought to establish hematologic and biochemical RIs from a varied ovine population to improve data interpretation for small ruminant veterinarians. Objectives The goal of this study was to establish ovine CBC and biochemistry reference intervals by sampling 120 healthy adult sheep, both male and female, from a variety of breeds, located in the Northeastern United States. Methods One hundred and eighteen sheep were included in the CBC RI and 121 sheep were included in the biochemistry panel RI. Results RIs for 42 CBC and biochemistry analytes were established in accordance with the American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology and Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. Conclusions These RIs are provided to assist small ruminant veterinarians with the interpretation of CBC and biochemistry panel results in sheep.