Authors : A.K. Mohammed , A.K.B. Sackey , L.B. Tekdek and J.O. Gefu
Abstract: A three year study on the effects of season, ambient temperature and sex on rectal temperature, pulse and respiratory rates (adaptive physiological parameters) of adult one humped camel (Camelus dromedarius) was conducted in Shika-Zaria a sub-humid zone of Nigeria. The average rectal Temperature (T), Pulse (P) and Respiratory (R) rates commonly referred to as ‘TPR’ were 37.0 C, 48.6 beats min 1 and 15.5 breaths min 1 respectively while the ranges were 35.0-40.0 C, 30-57 beats min 1 and 8-23 breaths min 1 respectively. Average TPR values were significantly lower (p< 0.05) in the cold season than in the dry season and no significant difference (p>0.05) between the sexes. The ambient temperature significantly (p< 0.01) influenced the TPR readings with lower values during morning hours than the afternoon hours.
A.K. Mohammed , A.K.B. Sackey , L.B. Tekdek and J.O. Gefu , 2007. The Effects of Season, Ambient Temperature and Sex on Rectal Temperature, Pulse and Respiratory Rates for the Adult One Humped Camel (Camelus dromedarius) in Shika-Zaria, Nigeria . Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 6: 536-538.