Effects of road transportation on excitability scores of pigs administered with ascorbic acid during the hot-dry season

Abstract

This study was carried out in order to determine the effect of eight-hour road transportation on the excitability scores
of pigs administered ascorbic acid (AA) during the hot-dry season in Northern Nigeria. Thirteen experimental pigs
were administered with AA orally at 100 mg/kg, while ten control pigs were given only distilled water orally.
Excitability score of each pig was determined 30 min before and immediately after transportation by a single ‘blind’
observer during weighing. An excitability score of 4 indicated the highest excitability. Percent excitability of
experimental and control pigs with each score was also determined. Post-transportation, an increase in the
percentage of experimental pigs with excitability score of 4 was recorded (38.5 to 69.2%), while a decrease was
obtained in the control pigs (40.0 to 10%). Road transportation decreased the excitability scores and percent
excitability in control pigs with high scores. In conclusion, administration of AA increased the nervous excitability of
pigs transported by road during the hot-dry season in northern Nigeria.