EFFECT OF METHANOLIC GMELINA ABOREA (BEECHWOOD) LEAF EXTRACT ON THE THERMOPHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS AND BODY LINEAR MEASUREMENT OF WEST AFRICA DWARF SHEEP
Abstract
A 56 days trial was carried out to determine the effect of methanolic Gmelina aborea leaf extract
(MGALE) on the thermophysiological parameters and body linear measurement of West African
dwarf (WAD) sheep. A total number of twenty WAD sheep with an average live weight of 14.49 ±
2.09 kg were assigned into four (4) treatment groups, consisting of five (5) sheep per treatment in a
completely randomized design. MGALE was administered at 0, 10, 20 and 30mL to represent four
treatments groups T1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively. Each animal was drenched MGALE every morning
throughout the experimental period. Same basal (Panicuum maximum) and concentrate diet were fed
across the treatment groups. Data collected on thermopysiological parameters and body linear
measurement were subjected one-way ANOVA at α= 0.05. Results revealed that MGALE had no
significant (p>0.05) influence on all the parameters assessed. However animals drenched 10mL
MGALE recorded the highest value of rectal temperature, pulse rate and respiratory rate (38.43o
c,
31.81bpm, 20.13bpm) respectively, and the lowest value was observed in animals administered 30mL
MGALE (38.01o
c, 23.31bpm, 19.67bpm) respectively. Heat stress index recorded the highest
numerical value (3.33) in 30mL treatment groups and the lowest value (2.97) was observed in 10mL
treatment groups. Results showed that MGALE had no significant (p>0.05) influence on the body
linear measurements parameters except neck length, chest girth, and stanum height. Neck length
values (18.00-23.88cm) varied significantly across the treatment groups in which WAD sheep
drenched 20mL MGALE had the highest value (23.88cm) while the lowest value (18.00cm) was
recorded in those on 0mL MGALE. Animals drenched 10mL (44.00cm) and 20mL (44.75) mL
MGALE recorded similar values but significantly higher than those on 30mL (43.75cm) and 0
(39.63cm) mL MGALE respectively. Sternum heights of the experimental animals on MGALE were
statistically similar but significant (p
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