Serum malondialdehyde concentration, rectal temperature and excitability score in road transported rams administered with vitamins C + E combination and vitamin C

Abstract

Experiment was done to investigate the effect of administration of vitamin C + E and vitamin C alone on serum malondialdehyde concentration, rectal temperature and excitability score in road transported rams. On experimental day, 7 rams (Group 1)were administered with vitamin C at the dose of 250 rug/kg dissolved in 10 ml of water and also vitamin E at the dose of 75 mg/kg, per os while another 7 rams (Group 2) was administered with vitamin C (250 mg/kg) only. The 3rd groups (7 rams), the control, were administered with 10 ml of sterile water. The RT was taken at 07:00,13:00 and 18:00 h, a total offive times, twice in a week and during the journey, at 1h, 4h and 8h, and also three consecutive day's post-transportation. Blood samples were taken a day before transportation, immediately after, on arrival and a 3 days after transportation in which the serum was harvested for MDA determination. Excitability scores was recorded before loading into the vehicle, and immediately after unloading. The results indicated that the rectal temperature (RT) value was lowest at 07:00 hr in the Group 1, and even maintained 13:00 hr which was significantly (P < 0,05) different. The RT value fluctuates during the journey however this values in group 1 and group 2. was not significantly (P > 0.05) different. The serum malondialdehyde concentration value rose in the first hour (2.13 ± 0.51 ng/ml) of the journey to 2.43 ± 0.22 ug/ml in the 8th hour in control group, which was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than the values in the other groups. In conclusion, road transportation of ram is stressful but this was reduced 3- days post-transportation and also administration of antioxidants vitamins VE +VC, and VC, alleviated adverse effect of road transportation stress in rams.

Keyword: Serum malondialdehyde, rectal temperature, excitability score, road transported ram, vitamin C vitamin E.