EFFECT OF SEASON ON THERMOPHYSIOLOGY OF WEST AFRICAN DWARF GOATS REARED IN NASARAWA STSTE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Heat stress is one of the major factor affecting production of animals. This has become more worrisome due climate change as a result of depletion of ozone layers. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the effect of season on heat-tolerance traits of West African Dwarf (WAD) goat using 200 (100 bucks and 100 does) mature WAD goats at both wet and dry season. Heat tolerance traits: respiratory rate, pulse rate and rectal temperature were determined eat 30 days
intervals for four months each for both wet and dry season. Data were analysed using T-test of the SPSS software version 21. Results indicated that season had significant effect on heat stress parameters. Values (41.19±0.46 vs 39.13±0.46) for rectal temperature was significantly higher in dry season compared to wet season. However, pulse and respiratory rates were higher in wet season. From the outcome of this research, it could be recommended that characterization of WAD goats could be done using heat tolerance traits so as to stimulate production of WAD goats in Nasarawa State due to the fact that they have the potential to adapt to the prevailing environmental conditions in the area.