Haemo-thermoregulatory response of wallowed and non-wallowed geese during low temperature humidity index

Abstract Haemo-thermoregulatory response of twenty-six adult geese comprising of 12 males and 14 females randomly allotted to four groups (Wallowed males, non-wallowed males, wallowed females and non-wallowed females) in a completely randomized design for seven weeks was evaluated. Wallowing was done every alternate day. Respiratory rate (RR), rectal temperature (RT) and pulse rate (PUR) were recorded. On days 1 and 49, blood samples (3mL/geese) were collected from geese in each group and analysed for haematological parameters using standard procedures. There was no sex effect on the RR and PUR but significantly (p<0.05) higher RT was observed in males (40.69°C) compared to females (40.53°C). The RR, RT and PUR were not significantly affected by wallowing. Interactions effect between sex and wallowing on RR, RT and PUR was not significant. Only platelet counts were significantly higher in females (17.70) than males (14.68). Wallowed Geese had significantly lower packed cell volume (37.46±5.13%), haemoglobin (11.85±1.69g/dl) and monocytes (2.81±0.63%) than other treatments. Wallowed Female geese had significantly lower haemoglobin (10.93g/dL) and monocytes (2.86%) compared to those without wallow treatment. Therefore, wallowing has mild influence on the thermoregulatory and haematological indices of geese reared under low temperature-humidity index during non-breeding season.