RESPONSE OF MACA (Lepidium meyenii) POWDER SUPPLEMENTATION ON PHYSIOLOGICAL AND SERUM ELCTROLYTE RESPONSES OF YANKASA RAMS DURINGHOT SEASON
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33003/jaat.2025.1102.017Abstract
This study assessed the effect of maca (Lepium meyenii) powder supplementation on physiological and serum electrolyte responses of Yankasa rams raised during dry hot season of Sudan savannah zone of Nigeria. A total of 20 pubertal Yankasa rams were divided into four treatment groups of 0, 5, 10, 15g/ Kg powdered maca per kg diet with five (5) rams each per treatment in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Data were analysed using Statistical Analysis System (SAS) where treatment means were separated using Duncan multiple range test (DMRT). The result revealed that maca supplementation significantly (P<0.05) lower thermoregulatory responses of Yankasa rams in this study. No significant (P>0.05) differences of meteorological data of study area across the experimental period. With the exception of potassium all other plasma electrolytes were not significantly (P>0.05) differences. No adverse and detrimental changes were observed in plasma electrolytes of Yankasa rams supplemented maca powder in this study. It could be concluded that supplementation of maca power from 5 to 15g/kg diet have beneficial adaptogenic effect of modulating rectal temperature thereby reducing respiratory rate and pulse rate. This study provides insights into maca powder potentials as a natural intervention for improving thermal tolerance and hydration status of Yankasa rams during dry hot season. It is therefore recommended that farmer should supplement maca at 15g/kg during hot dry season to mitigate negative physiological responses and electrolyte balance.
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