EFFECT OF WATER RESTRICTION AND ASCORBIC ACID SUPPLIMENTATION ON RECTAL TEMPERATURE, BODY WEIGHT AND HEMATOLOGICAL INDICES IN JAPANESE QUAILS IN SOKOTO, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study was conducted to determine the effect of water restriction and ascorbic acid supplementation on body weight, cloacal temperature and hematological parameters of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) during the early dry season (November to December). Temperature and relative humidity during the first, second and third weeks of the experiment were 37.7 0C and 19 %, 28.9 0C and 33 % and 25.5 0C and 78 % respectively. One hundred and fifty (n=150) three-week old male (30) and female (120). The birds were assigned to groups A, B and C comprising of fifty birds per group. Fifty percent water restriction was tested on groups B and C while group C was supplemented with 250mg Ascorbic acid (AA). The results of the study demonstrated significant (P < 0.05) increase in body temperature in the group supplemented with vitamin C compared with the non-supplemented groups in the first week. While, a significant (P < 0.05) increase in body temperature between the control and the water deprived and also water deprived and supplemented with vitamin C was recorded in the second week. However, no corresponding increase in body temperature between all the groups was observed in the third week. There was also no significant difference between any of the groups in red blood cell (RBC) count, hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, packed cell volume (PCV), total white blood cell count and differential cell count. There was significant (P < 0.05) increase in serum glucose level in group C compared to the other groups. Significant (P < 0.05) increase in urea and creatinine were recorded in groups B and C, but there was no significant difference in total protein, albumin, sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorous, and uric acid. Histopathology of the liver and kidney tissues indicated varying level of necrosis in groups B and C. Base on the findings of this research, it is concluded that, the quail appeared not to be affected by water restriction and 250mg AA supplementation was not beneficial in quail subjected to water restriction. We recommend that other researches should be conducted at different season of the year using different doses of AA.