Antistress evaluation of xylazine and ascorbic acid doses using biomarkers and chevon characteristics sequel to stocking and 28-hours road transportation

Transportation of animals cannot be avoided in animal husbandry and when they are subjected to psychological and physiological stress could compromise product. Thirty-two apparently healthy Sahel bucks were subjected to an experimental journey. Four groups were randomly assigned into control none treated, xylazine (0.02 mg/kg) and ascorbic acid (200 mg/kg), xylazine (0.01 mg/kg) and ascorbic acid (400 mg/kg), xylazine (0.015 mg/kg) and ascorbic acid (300 mg/kg) each group had four animals each in both high and low stocking density sub-groups. The xylazine was administered intravenous while ascorbic acid was administered orally. Group (0.02mg/kg) xylazine and (200mg/kg) ascorbic acid at high stocking rate significantly (p <0.05) increased the dressing percentage, while low stocking rate decreased using the same combination significantly (p <0.05) decreased dressing percentage. Group of (0.015mg/kg) xylazine and (300mg/kg) ascorbic acid at high stocking rate significantly (p <0.05) increased the excitatory score at slaughter. There were also interactions of treatment on excitatory score, dressing percentages and triiodothyronine. This means that the treatment using the two drugs influenced these parameters. It infers the antistress treatment influenced some meat characteristics. Conclusively, groups (0.02mg/kg) xylazine and (200mg/kg) ascorbic acid, and (0.015mg/kg) xylazine and (300mg/kg) ascorbic acid improved some meat characteristics in bucks, withdrawal period of xylazine must be considered. Key words: Doses; Xylazine-ascorbic acid; Improved; Chevon; Stress