Effect of Water Restriction and Ascorbic Acid Supplimentation on Rectal Temperature, Body Weight and Hematological Indices in Japanese Quails in Sokoto, Nigeria
Effect of Water Restriction and Ascorbic Acid Supplimentation on Rectal Temperature, Body Weight and Hematological Indices in Japanese Quails in Sokoto, Nigeria.
ABSTRACT
The study was conducted to determine the effect of water restriction and ascorbic acid supplementation on body weight, cloacal temperature and hematological parameters of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) during the early dry season (November to December).
Temperature and relative humidity during the first, second and third weeks of the experiment were 37.7 0C and 19 %, 28.9 0C and 33 % and 25.5 0C and 78 % respectively. One hundred and fifty (n=150) three-week old male (30) and female (120).
The birds were assigned to groups A, B and C comprising of fifty birds per group. Fifty percent water restriction was tested on groups B and C while group C was supplemented with 250mg Ascorbic acid (AA).
The results of the study demonstrated significant (P < 0.05) increase in body temperature in the group supplemented with vitamin C compared with the non-supplemented groups in the first week.
While, a significant (P < 0.05) increase in body temperature between the control and the water deprived and also water deprived and supplemented with vitamin C was recorded in the second week.
However, no corresponding increase in body temperature between all the groups was observed in the third week. There was also no significant difference between any of the groups in red blood cell (RBC) count, hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, packed cell volume (PCV), total white blood cell count and differential cell count.
There was significant (P < 0.05) increase in serum glucose level in group C compared to the other groups. Significant (P < 0.05) increase in urea and creatinine were recorded in groups B and C, but there was no significant difference in total protein, albumin, sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorous, and uric acid.
Histopathology of the liver and kidney tissues indicated varying level of necrosis in groups B and C.
Base on the findings of this research, it is concluded that, the quail appeared not to be affected by water restriction and 250mg AA supplementation was not beneficial in quail subjected to water restriction.
We recommend that other researches should be conducted at different season of the year using different doses of AA.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title i
Dedication ii
Certification iii
Acknowledgements iv
Table of contents vi
List of Tables x
List of Figures xi
List of Plates xii
Abstract xiii
CHAPTER ONE
- INTRODUCTION 1
- BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY 1
- STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM 7
- AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 7
- JUSTIFICATION 8
CHAPTER TWO LITERATURE REVIEW
- WATER 9
- Functions of Water 11
- Water Supply 15
- Water Quality Parameters for Poultry 18
- Potential Problems Associated With Water Contaminants in Poultry 21
- The Use of Water to Combat Heat Stress 24
- TEMPERATURE 24
- Thermoregulation 28
- Thermoneutral Zone 31
- Heterothermy 32
- AVIAN HEMATOLOGY 34
- DYNAMICS OF BODY WEIGHT CHANGES IN POULTRY 36
- VITAMIN C 37
- Physiological Function of Ascorbic Acid in Mammals 38
- Antioxidant 40
- Pro-oxidant 41
- Immune System 42
- Antihistamine 42
- WATER RESTRICTION / DEPRIVATION 42
CHAPTER THREE
- MATERIALS AND METHODS 51
- EXPERIMENTAL SITE 51
- EXPERIMENTAL CONDITION 51
- Housing of birds 52
- Grouping of quails 52
- ANIMAL TREATMENT 53
- METEOROLOGICAL DATA AND CLOACAL TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT 53
- SAMPLE COLLECTION 54
- HEMATOLOGICAL ANALYSIS 54
- BIOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS 55
- STATISTICAL ANALYSIS 56
CHAPTER FOUR
- RESULTS 57
- CLOACAL TEMPERATURE 57
- BODY WEIGHT CHANGES IN QUAILS 60
- HAEMATOLOGY 65
- SERUM BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS 67
- HISTOLOGICAL STUDIES 69
CHAPTER FIVE
- DISCUSSION 75
- CLOACAL TEMPERATURE 75
- BODY WEIGHT 76
- HEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS 77
- SERUM BIOCHEMISTRY 78
- HISTOPATHOLOGY 81
- CONCLUSION 82
- RECOMMENDATIONS 82
REFERENCES 83
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
The Japanese quail also known as corturnix quail, (Corturnix cortunix japonica) belongs to the kingdom animalia, phylum chordate, class Aves, order Galliformes, family phasianidae, sub-family perdicinae, genus corturnix and species japonica.
The bird is a species of old world quail found in East Asia. They are migratory, species, breeding in Manchuria, southern Siberia, northern Japan and the Korean peninsula and dwell in grass land and cultivated field.
Adults are approximately 20 centimeters in length. The bird is used mainly for table and egg production (Sam, 2010).
The Japanese quail, also known as Coturnix quail, pharaoh’s quail, stubble quail and eastern quail differs considerably from the North American Bobwhite quail.
The Bobwhite is larger than the Japanese quail, however the Coturnix produces larger eggs. The incubation time needed for fertile eggs is shorter (14-17 days) compared to Bobwhite quail eggs (23 days).
Coturnix may start laying eggs as early as 6 weeks of age compared to 16 weeks for the Bobwhite (Sam, 2010).
REFERENCES
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Abdelatif, A.M. and Ahmed, M.M.M. (1994): Water restriction, thermoregulaton, blood constituents and endocrine responses in Sudanese desert sheep. Journal of Arid Environments, 26: 171-180.
Adenkola A.Y. and Ayo J.O. (2009a): Effect of Ascorbic acid on rectal temperature fluctuations in indigenous turkeys during the hot-dry season. International Journal of Poultry Science 8: 457 – 461.
Adenkola, A. Y. and Ayo, J. O. (2009b): Effect of eight hours road transportation stress on erythrocyte osmotic fragility of pigs administered ascorbic acid during the harmattan season. Journal of cell and Animal Biology, 3: 004-008.
Adenkola, A. Y., Ayo, J.O and Sackey, A. K. B. (2009): Ascorbic acid- induced modulation of rectal temperature in pigs during the harmattan season. Journal of Thermal Biology, 34: 152-154.
