OXIDATIVE STRESS MARKERS IN WESTAFRICAN DWARF AND KALAWAD GOATS AS AFFECTED BY THE EARLY RAINY SEASON

Abstract

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) are vital oxidative stress markers involved in regulating metabolism, immunity and homeostasis in animals to maintain health and productivity across changing environment. Thus, this study was undertaken to evaluate oxidative stress markers in westafrican dwarf and kalawad goats as affected by the early rainy season. The SOD and MDA levels of 16 non-gravid does consisting of eight West African Dwarf and eight KALAWAD goats managed intensively for a period of three months (May, June, and July), during the early rainy (hot-wet) season was investigated. Animals were fed Pennisetum purpureum and supplemented with concentrate at 2% body weight dry matter basis. Blood samples were collected twice a month for serum hormonal assay using ELISA kits. Data were analyzed using method of least square analysis of variance in a 2×3 factorial arrangement with the effects of breed and month of sampling as the independent variables while the SOD and MDA levels are the dependent variables. Results showed that breed had no significant effects (P>0.05) on both SOD and MDA levels. Superoxide dismutase level decreases as the month of sampling progressed with May having the highest mean value followed by June and July with the lowest mean values respectively (2.41±0.58 vs 0.62±0.12 vs 0.60±0.16 U/L). The study concluded that SOD was higher in the two breeds in the month of May but the highest value was recorded in the KALAWAD goats which indicate that both breeds have high antioxidant levels with the KALAWAD tending to have the highest.