Influence of intense exercise on acid–base, blood gas and electrolyte status in bulls

The aim of the present study was to obtain reference values in bulls after an intense exercise situation quantifying some biological variables in venous blood.The descriptive analysis was carried out using Statistica 8.0 program and the values obtained were pH (6.81), PCO2 (67.81 mmHg), PO2 (22.58 mmHg), HCO3- (10.82 mEq/l), BE (−23.48 mEq/l), TCO2 (12.83 mEq/l), sO2 (17.50%) for blood gas, and for mineral Na, iCa and K were 146.96; 1.14 and 7.49 mmol/l respectively. Finally, the mean value of Htc was 43.522%, Hb 14.80.Following exercise, and compared with values considered as physiological in cattle, some blood variables in our study were decreased (blood pH, HCO3-, BE, PO2 and sO2), some remained in the normal limit (Na, K, iCa, Htc) and the rest are increased (PCO2, Hb, lactate) comparing with when compared to normal reference values for the bovine species.