EFFECT OF VITAMIN C, E AND SELENIUM SUPPLEMENTATIONS ON GUINEA PIGS (Cavia porcellus) THERMOREGULATORY INDICES DURING HOT SEASON OF NORTHERN GUINEA SAVANNA ZONE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study was carried out to evaluate the role of vitamin C, E and dietary selenium supplements on thermoregulatory indices of Guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) during hot weather condition of northern guinea savanna zone of Nigeria. A total of 60 adult male guinea pigs of three months of age with an average body weight of 500±20g were randomly allocated into three dietary treatment groups of vitamin C, E and Selenium and each comprised four varying levels with five animals per group in a completely randomized design (CRD). Feed and water was provided ad-libitum. The meteorological observation during this study indicated hyperthermy in the month of June with THI average of 31.264 while month of May and July THI values indicated that the guinea pigs were raised in a thermal comfort zone. The thermoregulatory indices evaluated in this study revealed that guinea pigs supplemented with vitamin E and Selenium had a significantly (P<0.05) difference on rectal temperature (˚C) with the range of 35.067-37.067˚C and 36.367 to 37.067˚C for vitamin E and Selenium respectively. Significant (P<0.05) difference of pulse rate (177.667-208.000 bpm) was observed in guinea pigs supplemented varying levels of vitamin E while guinea pigs supplemented varying levels of vitamin C had a normalized (P>0.05) values of respiratory rate (brpm), rectal temperature (˚C) and pulse rate (bpm). It could be concluded that supplementation of vitamin E had a positive impact on thermoregulatory indices of adult male guinea pigs raised under hot season of Northern guinea savannah zone, Nigeria.