PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES OF CANE RATS SOURCED FROM THREE WEST AFRICAN COUNTRIES DURING THE WET SEASON IN HUMID TROPICAL ENVIRONMENT
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51791/njap.vi.5257Keywords:
Cane rat, Respiratory rate, Rectal Temperature, Body weight gainAbstract
The study was conducted to determine the physiological responses of cane rats during the wet season in the humid tropical environment. The study was carried out at the cane rat unit over a period of 8 weeks between the months of March and April at the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Moor plantation, Ibadan, Oyo State. A total of 12 cane rats sourced from Togo, Benin and Ghana were used for the study. The rats were housed in tier hutches provided with compounded feed and grasses containing crude protein 18%, metabolizable energy 2450 kcal/kg and grasses, which
included elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) and Guinea grass (Panicum maximum). Each cane rat was weighed weekly and at the end of the experiment the body weight gain was calculated. The rectal temperature was measured weekly using a digital clinical thermometer and head temperature using the infrared thermometer. Respiratory rate was determined by visually counting the movement of the flanks using a stopwatch. Data was analyzed by using ANOVA and means were separated by using Duncan multiple range test. No significant difference in the values obtained from the
respiratory rate of the cane rats from the different locations. Same trend was followed for the head and rectal temperature, values obtained fell within the normal range of value for rabbits. Body weight gain of the cane rats were similar. It was concluded from all the parameters taken, that cane rats from the different locations were well adapted to the environment during the wet season.