Effects of doses of ascorbic acid on physio-biochemical parameters of Sahel bucks exposed to stocking and 28 –hour road transportation (North Western – South Western, Nigeria)

Abstract

Sahel bucks were used in evaluating doses of ascorbic acid exposed to long term transportation stress. Their ages ranged between 1.5-2 years, their body condition score was 3 out of 5 scale. Test groups were ascorbic acid at 400mg/kg orally administered; ascorbic acid at 300mg/kg PO; ascorbic acid at 200mg/kg PO and control group without ascorbic acid administration. Thus, 16 animals were used for high stocking rate and 16 stocked using low stocking rate in the experiment. Physiological and biochemical parameters were assessed. The heart rates of the bucks treated with 200mg/kg ascorbic acid midway into the journey were low (P<0.05) compared to those treated with 300 and 400mg/kg, and the control group. High dose of ascorbic acid (400mg/kg) produced significantly higher values of sodium and chloride serum concentrations. Mg levels were significantly (P<0.05) lowered with lower doses of ascorbic acid treatment compared to the control. In contrast, T4 values in all treated groups were lower than that of the control animals. Ascorbic acid caused a significant (P<0.05) increase in red blood cells; the leucocytes and lymphocytes counts. Conclusively, ascorbic acid at 300 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg had better anti-stress property that could be used to improve animal welfare in bucks exposed to long road transportation. Key Words: Ascorbic acid; Doses; Stress; Sahel bucks