Variation in rectal temperature following estruos synchronization using different concentrations of flourogeston actetate sponge in Red Sokoto does

Abstract

The study examined the variation in rectal temperature following estrous synchronization using different concentrations of intravaginal flourogeston acetate (FGA) sponge in the Red Sokoto does. Temperature is a valuable indicator of the health status of the animal and may play a part in diagnosis of disease. The FGA sponge (35 and 40 mg) has been widely used in estrous synchronization in domestic animals. Twenty (20) apparently healthy multiparous Red Sokoto does aged 1½-2 years with average body weight of 25±0.65 kg and body condition score of 3.5 and above were randomly selected and used for the study. The does were divided into two groups of ten (10) does each, Group I (n=10) treated with 35 mg FGA and group II (n=10) treated with 45 mg FGA sponge, respectively and left in situ for 14 days before withdrawal. Rectal temperature was taken with digital thermometer hourly for six hours (6 am- 12 noon) from day 0 and every other day for 21 days for all the does in groups I and II. The mean rectal temperature was found to increase gradually but not significantly (P>0.05) from day 0 to 13 in both groups with higher values in group II, then increased significantly (P<0.05) from day 13 to 19 (38.7±0.2- 39.8±0.5oC) and day 15-19 (38.7±0.4 - 39.4±0.2 oC) in group II (45 mg FGA) and I (30 mg FGA) respectively, after which a decrease was observed till day 21 in the treated groups. The maximum temperatures at estrus were 39.4±0.2oC in group I (30 mg FGA) and 39.8±0.5oC in group II (45 mg FGA). It can be concluded the period of estrus elaborated higher rectal temperature than other phases of estrous cycle and rectal temperature could served as adjunct parameter in detecting estrus in does.