EFFECTS OF WALLOWING, SEX AND DAYTIME ON THE THERMOREGULATORY RESPONSE OF GEESE AT HIGH TEMPERATURE HUMIDITY INDEX

Abstract

24 geese (12 males and 12 females) were used to assess the effect of wallowing on the haematology and thermoregulatory response of geese at high temperature humidity index. The male and female geese were randomly divided each into 2 treatments which were the wallowed group and non- wallowed group and the experiment lasted for 5 weeks. The temperature, humidity, pulse rate, respiratory rate and rectal temperature were measured every alternate day for a period of 5 weeks while the blood samples of the animals was collected and analysed for haematological profile twice during the experiment: 2 weeks post wallowing and 4 weeks post wallowing. Significantly higher values were observed in the respiratory rate and pulse rate of non-wallowed geese than the wallowed geese for the wallowing effect. Sex did not have any significant effect on all the parameters. The values for their respiratory rate, rectal temperature and pulse rate ranged from 20.24±2.48-21.15±3.69 breaths/minutes, 40.42±0.35-40.43±0.450C and 152.74±22.32-156.33±17.43 beats/minutes respectively. Their respiratory rate and rectal temperature were also observed to be significantly higher in the afternoon and evening than in the morning. However, there was no significant difference in their pulse rate. Therefore, this study indicated that wallowing and daytime influenced the thermoregulatory response of the geese at high temperature humidity index.