ON-BOARD THERMAL LOAD AND THE EFFECTS OF a-TOCOPHEROL AND ASCORBIC ACID ON COLONIC TEMPERATURE OF TRANSPORTED QUAILS (Coturnix coturnix Japonica)

Abstract

This study investigated on-board thermal load and the effects of antioxidants vitamin E (VE, a- tocopherol) and ascorbic acid (AA) on colonic temperature (CT) of 80 male Japanese quails transported by road for 2 h. The birds were divided into 4 groups: VE- and AA-treated groups, administered with 60 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg body weight, respectively, of VE and AA, control transported group, administered with 0.5 ml of sterile water, and sedentary non-transported group. Shortly after the administration of the antioxidants, the birds were transported by road for 2 h. The CT of the birds was recorded before, during and immediately after transportation and on the third day of post-transportation period. On-board thermal load inside the vehicle was assessed using the enthalpy comfort index (ECI) which measured the amount of heat in kcal, contained in I kg of dry air. The ECI inside the vehicle during transportation fluctuated between 90-110 KJ/Kg. The CT recorded during transportation in the control quails were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than the values recorded in VE and AA treated birds. Immediately after transportation, the CT was significantly (P<0.05) lower in VE (40.1±0.2°C) birds compared to the values obtained in AA (41.3±0.6°C) treated, control (42.5+0.4°C) and sedentary (40.8±0.4°C) quails, respectively. Mortality was not recorded during transportation. In conclusion, 2 h of road transportation induced hyperthermia and high thermal load, the effects of which were ameliorated by VE and AA. The ameliorating effect was more pronounced in quails administered with VE.