J Vet Sci.  2006 Jun;7(2):127-131. 10.4142/jvs.2006.7.2.127.

Excitability scores of goats administered ascorbic acid and transported during hot-dry conditions

• Ayo JO
• Minka NS
• Mamman M

• KMID: 1059197
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4142/jvs.2006.7.2.127

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the effect of ascorbic acid (AA) administration on goat excitability due to transportation. Ten goats administered AA (p.o.) at 100 mg/kg of body weight before transportation served as the experimental group, and seven goats administered only 10 ml/kg of sterile water (p.o.) served as controls. Excitability scores were recorded for each goat; when weighed, before, immediately after, and 3 h after 8 h of transportation. A score of one to four was allocated to each goat; higher scores represent greater excitability. Immediately after transportation, excitability scores decreased significantly, especially those of control goats (p < 0.001). At 3 h posttransportation, the excitability scores of animals in the experimental group were not significantly (p > 0.05) different from their pre-transportation normal values, whereas those of control goats were significantly lower (p < 0.01). The correlation i.e. the relationship between excitability score values and percent excitability (percentage of goat with particular excitability score) for different excitability score group 3 h post-transportation was positive and highly significant (p < 0.001), in both experimental and control goats. Our results indicate that road transportation induces considerable stress (depression) in goats as evidenced by a lower excitability score posttransportation. Moreover, the administration of AA pretransportation facilitated the transition from a state of depression to excitation. In conclusion, AA administration to animals prior to transportation may ameliorate the depression often encountered after road transportation.

Keyword

ascorbic acid; excitability score; goat; transportation

MeSH Terms

Animal Husbandry
Animal Welfare
Animals
Ascorbic Acid/*pharmacology/therapeutic use
Female
Goat Diseases/*physiopathology/*prevention&control
Goats/*physiology
*Heat
Humidity
Male
Stress/physiopathology/*veterinary
*Transportation

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Excitability scores of experimental (n = 10) and control (n = 7) goats before transportation (%, Mean ± SE).

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  Fig. 2 Effect of road transportation and the administration of ascorbic acid on excitability scores of experimental (n = 10) and control (n = 7) goats immediately after the journey. *p < 0.05; ***p < 0.001

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  Fig. 3 Three hours post-transportation effect on excitability scores of experimental (n = 10) and control (n = 7) goats. ***p < 0.001.

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