Sheep husbandry is the backbone of rural people of North-western Himalyan states of Himachal Pradesh & Kashmir in India. Massive migration of sheep takes place from the plains to the alpine pastures during summer & back to the plains with the onset of winter. We have observed an intense salt hunger in the sheep flock after their stay at the high altitude pastures. In the present study the possible cause of salt hunger was investigated by monitoring sodium & potassium concentration in plasma (n=20) and urine (n=12) of crossbred sheep (Gaddi x Merino, n=20) at pre-ascent base camp (mean height from sea level 3000 ft) and subsequently, after their one month stay at Kara high altitude pastures of Kinnaur District of state of Himachal pradesh (mean ht from sea level 13000 ft). A few fodder/pasture samples were also analysed for Na & K. The minerals in plasma, urine & fodder samples were analysed by Atomic Absorption sepctrophotometer. Stay at the Kara high altitude pastures was accompanied by a significant increase (p<0.05) in plasma Na & K concentration but with a decline in Na: K ratio. The urinary Na level fell from 38.25 mmol/l (at base camp) to 14.23 mmol/l at high altitude station. Similarly, urinary Na:K ratio fell from 0.28 to 0.039 after stay at alpine pastures. The alpine pasture species contained considerably higher potassium level (1.72g %) compared to the base camp fodders (1.13 g %). Salt hunger in sheep was related to ingesting low sodium but high potassium herbage, insufficient dietary sodium intake and resulting sodium deficiency in these animals. It was recommended that sheep at alpine pastures must be provided extra salt supplementation to sustain optimum production.

Erythrocytic indices, osmotic fragility and plasma electolyte conectration were studied in 6 healthy kids and 10 clinically anaemic kids of undefined aetiology. Mean haemoglobin concentration, packed. cell volume and total erythrocyte count were recorded as 4.75±0.21 g/dl, 18.4±1.0% and 8.56±0.55 million/alphai in anaemic goats compared to the corresponding values of 8.15±0.34, 27.7± 1.22 and 17.8±1.23 in healthy kids. The mean values of MCH and MCV were higher, and that of MCHC lower in the kids suffering from anaemia. Red blood cells from anaemic kids were more susceptible to osmotic lysis between saline concenfrations of 0.70 and 1.00% with mean corpuscular fragility values of 0.709±0.043% and 0.734±b.021 % in the healthy and anaemic kids respectively. Plasma concentration of sodium, potassium, chloride and total proteins, however, did not differ significantly in the two group studied.

Some hematological and physiological parameters of yak were recorded on transportation to lower altitude in two different seasons i.e. spring and winter. The animals showed a steady increase in respiration rate and heart rate on arrival to lower altitude in spring but no specific trend in these parameters was observed in winter. The values of hemoglobin, packed cell volume and total erythrocyte count showed a declining trend during both the seasons, which was much faster in spring as compared to that in winter. The animals were able to adjust to lower altitude by a shift in physiological and hematological parameters.