ANAEMIA IN LIVESTOCK: ETIOLOGY, DIAGNOSIS, PREVENTION, AND MANAGEMENT—A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW

ZOOLOGY

Anaemia is a common hematological disorder in livestock that significantly affects animal health, productivity, welfare, and economic sustainability. It is characterized by a reduction in erythrocyte count, hemoglobin concentration, or oxygen-carrying capacity of blood. The condition arises from diverse causes, including nutritional deficiencies, infectious and parasitic diseases, blood loss, toxic exposure, immune-mediated disorders, genetic abnormalities, and chronic diseases. Clinical manifestations vary with species, severity, and duration of anaemia and may include weakness, pallor, reduced growth, decreased production, reproductive impairment, and increased mortality. Accurate diagnosis involves clinical evaluation, hematological assessment, biochemical investigations, and identification of underlying causes. Effective management depends on correction of nutritional deficiencies, appropriate medical and antiparasitic therapy, supportive care, and control of predisposing factors. Preventive strategies such as balanced nutrition, mineral supplementation, vaccination, biosecurity, parasite control, and regular health monitoring play a crucial role in reducing disease incidence. Recent advances in biomarkers, molecular diagnostics, precision livestock farming, genomics, and artificial intelligence offer promising opportunities for early detection and improved management. This review summarizes the etiology, pathophysiology, clinical features, diagnosis, prevention, and management strategies of anaemia in livestock, highlighting its impact on animal health and production.

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