Husbandry Systems' Impact on Yearling Cattle's Thermoregulatory and Serum Biochemistry Indices in Ikorodu, South Western Nigeria

F. P. Agbaye; M. A. Onigemo; E. A. Amao; K. K. Agbalaya; A. O. J. Anjola; J. I. A. Umoru; Y. A. A. Oso; L. A. Tijani; A. R. Asafa; O. J. Ishola

Authors

F. P. Agbaye Lagos State University of Science and Technology
M. A. Onigemo Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu, Lagos, Nigeria
E. A. Amao The Oke - Ogun Polytechnic, Saki (TOPS), Oyo State, Nigeria
K. K. Agbalaya Lagos State University of Science and Technology, Ikorodu
A. O. J. Anjola Lagos State University of Science and Technology, Ikorodu
J. I. A. Umoru Federal College of Education (Technical) Akoka, Lagos
Y. A. A. Oso Lagos State University of Science and Technology, Ikorodu
L. A. Tijani Lagos State University of Science and Technology, Ikorodu
A. R. Asafa Lagos State University of Science and Technology, Ikorodu
O. J. Ishola Lagos State University of Science and Technology, Ikorodu

Keywords:

temperature-humidity index, Serum biochemistry, intensive husbandry system, semi-intensive husbandry system

Abstract

The increasing conflict between herders and crop farmers prompted research into the physiological implications of rearing cattle in complete confinement. Thermoregulatory and serum biochemical indices of Twenty-four unsexed yearlings mixed Nigerian indigenous crossbreed cattle were reared under intensive (T1) and semi-intensive management system (T2) for 16 weeks in a Completely Randomized Design trial. Ambient temperature (AT), relative humidity (RH), respiratory rate (RR), pulse rate (PR), skin temperature (ST), and rectal temperature (RT) were collected weekly. At the same time, live bodyweight gains (LBW) and Serum biochemical parameters were determined monthly. The results revealed that T2 cattle recorded significantly (p<0.05) higher values for RT (39.30^oC) and ST (37.75^OC) in October, PR (91 beats/min) in September, and RR (36.67 breaths/min) in October while those of T1 recorded the lowest RT (38.57^OC) in September, ST (35^OC) in October, PR (67 beats/min) November and RR (24.33 breaths/min) in December. The Temperature Humidity Index (THI) of T2 cattle ranges between (61.06 and 67.76) while that of T1 cattle ranges between (79.40 and 86.62). The result indicated that T2 cattle were within the thermal comfort zone (THI ≤ 74) while all those of T1 were under heat stress (THI ≥ 84) in September but were under the thermal comfort zone for the remaining periods. Intensively reared cattle had significantly higher values of blood glucose (72.33mg/dl) and protein (96.5g/dl) in October. However, the values of both parameters significantly dropped in November and December. Conclusively, the rearing environment significantly influenced cattle's thermoregulatory and serum biochemical indices.