Full Length Research Paper

Effects of road transportation on excitability scores of pigs administered with ascorbic acid during the hot-dry season

Olayinka Oluwafemi Asala¹*, Joseph Olusegun Ayo², Adeshina Yahaya Adenkola³ and Ndazo Salka Minka⁴

¹National Veterinary Research Institute, P. M. B. 01, Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria.

²Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.

³Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria.

⁴College of Agriculture and Animal Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Mando, Kaduna, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: ofcasala@yahoo.com. Tel: +2348065690278

Accepted 2 November, 2009

   Abstract

This study was carried out in order to determine the effect of eight-hour road transportation on the excitability scores of pigs administered ascorbic acid (AA) during the hot-dry season in Northern Nigeria. Thirteen experimental pigs were administered with AA orally at 100 mg/kg, while ten control pigs were given only distilled water orally. Excitability score of each pig was determined 30 min before and immediately after transportation by a single ‘blind’ observer during weighing. An excitability score of 4 indicated the highest excitability. Percent excitability of experimental and control pigs with each score was also determined. Post-transportation, an increase in the percentage of experimental pigs with excitability score of 4 was recorded (38.5 to 69.2%), while a decrease was obtained in the control pigs (40.0 to 10%). Road transportation decreased the excitability scores and percent excitability in control pigs with high scores. In conclusion, administration of AA increased the nervous excitability of pigs transported by road during the hot-dry season in northern Nigeria.

Key words: Pigs, road transportation, stress, excitability scores, ascorbic acid, hot-dry season.