The objective of this study was to compare the changes of acute phase proteins after ketamine, thiopental and propofol anaesthesia in buffalo calves. Five calves were anaesthetized three times with ketamine, thiopental or propofol in random order at 3 weeks intervals. Calves were pre-medicated with xylazine and buterphenol. Propofol resulted in an excellent anaesthetic induction (free of excitement), short recovery times and duration of anaesthesia, whereas ketamine and thiopental produced a good and fair quality of induction respectively. Acute phase proteins showed significant increase in haptoglobin and fibrinogen, whereas albumin was significantly decreased in all groups. Haptoglobin returned to normal values 48 hours after anaesthesia with propofol and thiopental.