EVALUATION OF SEX CHROMATIN OF CALF'S NEUTROPHILS AS A DIAGNOSTIC TOOL FOR BOVINE FREEMARTINISM AT THEIR EARLY LIFE

Bovine drumstick of neutrophil leucocytes was studied on the quantitative and morphological characteristics and was evaluated as a diagnostic measure for bovine freemartin in newborn calves. Nuclear area of neutrophil (A, ${\mu}m^2$) and drumstick area (B, ${\mu}m^2$) were significantly correlated with average diameter of drumstick (ADD, ${\mu}m$) and following regression equations were obtained : $A=45({\pm}3)$ ADD-8, r = 0.74, $s.e.{\pm}0.6$, p < 0.01, $B=1.72({\pm}0.05)$ ADD-0.98, r = 0.93, $s.e.{\pm}0.1$, p < 0.01 Eight female siblings of heterosexual multiplets were diagnosed as freemartin from the results of chromosome analysis. Heterosexual multiplets had a very low frequency of drumstick in the nucleus of neutrophils irrespective of genetic sex. Diameters of drumstick fund in freemartin and male cotwin did not differ from those of normal cows. Examinations of drumstick in 800 neutrophils for both female and male siblings are concluded to be the best way to aid the detection of freemartinism of heterosexual twins at early life.