Table 5 Effect of floor type on plasma non-esterified fatty acids concentrations, haematocrit %, red blood cell (RBC) number and plasma haemoglobin concentration

Non-esterified fatty acids (mmol/L)

Slats

0.12 ± 0.01^a

0.09 ± 0.01

0.11 ± 0.01^b

0.17 ± 0.10^b

0.14 ± 0.01^b

0.20 ± 0.02^b

Mat 1

0.12 ± 0.01

0.08 ± 0.01

0.10 ± 0.01

0.12 ± 0.01

0.12 ± 0.01

0.18 ± 0.02

Mat 2

0.11 ± 0.01^a

0.09 ± 0.01

0.10 ± 0.01^b

0.10 ± 0.01^b

0.12 ± 0.01^b

0.16 ± 0.02^b

Wood-chip

0.13 ± 0.11^a

0.10 ± 0.01

0.09 ± 0.01^b

0.13 ± 0.01^b

0.15 ± 0.01^b

0.18 ± 0.02^b

Treatment P = 0.164; Time P = 0.0001; Treatment × time P = 0.005

Haematocrit %

Slats

32.4 ± 0.84^a

35.5 ± 0.76

36.5 ± 0.80^b

37.8 ± 0.66^b

37.8 ± 0.74

36.2 ± 0.71

Mat 1

33.1 ± 0.83^a

35.0 ± 0.78

35.7 ± 0.80^b

37.9 ± 0.67^b

37.8 ± 0.74^b

36.7 ± 0.73^b

Mat 2

34.1 ± 0.83^a

33.2 ± 0.75

36.6 ± 0.80^b

37.6 ± 0.65

37.6 ± 0.74^b

37.1 ± 0.71

Wood-chip

34.2 ± 0.83

33.7 ± 0.76

35.7 ± 0.80

35.4 ± 0.65

37.2 ± 0.74

35.2 ± 0.70

Treatment P = 0.569; Time P = 0.0001; Treatment × time P = 0.006

Red Blood cell (×10⁶ cells/μL)

Slats

8.0 ± 0.10^a

8.3 ± 0.11^b

8.4 ± 0.10^b

8.6 ± 0.10^b

8.8 ± 0.11^b

8.8 ± 0.11^b

Mat 1

8.0 ± 0.10^a

8.2 ± 0.12

8.3 ± 0.10^b

8.8 ± 0.11^b

8.7 ± 0.11^b

8.6 ± 0.11^b

Mat 2

8.0 ± 0.10^a

8.0 ± 0.11

8.3 ± 0.10

8.7 ± 0.10^b

8.7 ± 0.11^b

8.7 ± 0.11^b

Wood-chip

8.2 ± 0.10^a

8.0 ± 0.12

8.1 ± 0.10

8.5 ± 0.10

8.6 ± 0.11^b

8.5 ± 0.11

Treatment P = 0.42; Time P = 0.0001; Treatment × time P = 0.008

Haemoglobin (g/dL)

Slats

10.8 ± 0.14

11.3 ± 0.16

13.8 ± 0.16^b

14.0 ± 0.15^b

13.6 ± 0.15^b

13.3 ± 0 .17^b

Mat 1

10.9 ± 0.14

11.2 ± 0.16

13.9 ± 0.16^b

14.0 ± 0.15^b

13.6 ± 0.15^b

13.3 ± 0.17^b

Mat 2

11.0 ± 0.14

10.7 ± 0.16

13.9 ± 0.16^b

13.9 ± 0.15^b

13.6 ± 0.15^b

13.5 ± 0.17^b

Wood-chip

11.0 ± 0.14

10.7 ± 0.16

13.5 ± 0.16^b

13.3 ± 0.15^b

13.3 ± 0.15^b

12.8 ± 0.17^b

Treatment P = 0.09; Time P = 0.0001; Treatment × time P = 0.0006