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Diurnal thermoregulatory responses in pregnant Yankasa ewes to the dry season in a tropical Savannah

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Abstract

The study investigated concomitant effect of gestation and high ambient temperature under a tropical environment on rectal temperature (RT), respiratory rate (RR) and heart rate (HR) responses in Yankasa ewes. Twenty Yankasa ewes, consisting of ten pregnant and ten non-pregnant ewes, were used for the study. Ewes were synchronised and bred, such that each gestation phase coincided with different periods of the dry-seasons, early-gestation (cold/harmattan), mid-gestation (peak hot-dry) and late-gestation (late hot-dry). The RT, RR and HR were recorded thrice, 2 days apart at middle of each gestation period at 06:00, 14:00 and 18:00 h, concurrently with dry- (DBT) and wet-bulb temperatures of the experimental pen. The DBT was positively correlated with RT, RR during the different gestation stages. The RT significantly (P < 0.001) increased with the hour of day, regardless of the physiological status of the ewes, with peak at 14:00 h. Values of RT and RR were higher (P < 0.05) in pregnant than non-pregnant ewes at mid- and late-gestation, respectively. Mean RT was lower (P < 0.001) at 06:00 h in pregnant than non-pregnant ewes at early-gestation (cold-dry). The HR was (P < 0.05) higher in pregnant than non-pregnant ewes during the different gestation phases. In conclusion, ambient temperature and gestation concomitantly modulate diurnal thermoregulatory responses of the ewes to hot-dry season. Adequate measures should be adopted to mitigate adverse impact of prolonged high RR on the dam and the foetus during the peak of ambient temperature prevailing in the tropical Savannah environment.

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Acknowledgements

The authors appreciate the technical assistance of Dr. L. Maruf of Imaging and Diagnostic unit, Department of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria, as well as Dr. B. Habibu, Department of Veterinary Physiology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.

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Correspondence to Lukuman Surakat Yaqub.

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The study was approved by the Animal Use and Welfare Committee of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and conducted in accordance with international guidelines for animal welfare.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Yaqub, L.S., Ayo, J.O., Kawu, M.U. et al. Diurnal thermoregulatory responses in pregnant Yankasa ewes to the dry season in a tropical Savannah. Trop Anim Health Prod 49, 1243–1252 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-017-1322-8

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