Alexandria Journal of Veterinary Sciences 2016, July. 5(2): 24-30
ISSN 1110-2047, www.alexjvs.com
DOI: 10.5455/ajvs.215533
Ascorbic acid Supplementation Improves the Quality of Meat Characteristics in Sahel Bucks
Exposed to Long Distance Road transport
Khalid T. Biobaku1, Jibir M2, Ismail A. Odetokun 3 Onifade K. Idowu4, Ismaila M. Sani4, Agaie B.
Mohammed4
1Department
of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria, 2
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo, University, Sokoto, Sokoto State, Nigeria,
3Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Ilorin, Nigeria, 4 Department of Veterinary Pharmacology and
Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Usmanu Danfodiyo, University, Sokoto, Sokoto State, Nigeria
Abstract
Key words:
Anti-stress,
Welfare,
dressing
percent,
pH,
Chevon
This study assessed the meat quality of Sahel bucks treated with ascorbic acid and exposed to long
term transportation stress during harmattan period. The animals were transported using; high and low
stocking density. A total of 32 animals (16 for both the high and low stocking rate) were used for the
study .Four goats were used in each of the treatment groups. Animals in groups 1, 2 and 3 were treated
with ascorbic acid at 400, 300 and 200 mg/kg orally, while animals in group 4 were the control nontreated group. Ascorbic acid was administered prior and midway into the experimental journey. Twenty
four animals were slaughtered, 3 from each group for assessment of goat meat (chevon) characteristics.
Goats treated with 400mg and 200mg/kg ascorbic acid had higher dressing percentage compared to
those treated with 300mg/kg (P<0.05). Excitatory score at slaughter was significantly (P<0.05) higher in
group treated with 400mg/kg compared to groups treated with (200 and 300mg/kg). The ultimate pH in
the group administered 400mg/kg was lower (P<0.05) compared to the other treatment groups
(200mg/kg and 300mg/kg). The ultimate pH on dressing percent, excitatory score at slaughter and on
ultimate pH of the meat at low stocking density is significantly (P<0.05) lower compared to the high
stocking density. There was an interaction between the dose of ascorbic acid and stocking rate. The study
showed that, ascorbic acid possesses anti-stress property that could be used to improve food animal
welfare and chevon quality.
Corresponding Author: Ismaila M. Sani, [email protected]
1. INTRODUCTION
Several studies have demonstrated the effect of
ascorbic acid on biochemical and other signs of
various types of stress and toxicities in domestic
animals including goats (Adenkola et al., 2016;
Adenkola et al., 2009; Ayo et al., 2006; Minka and
Ayo, 2010). Vitamin C is a six carbon ketolactone
structure; it is related to glucose and other hexoses.
Ascorbic acid is reversibly oxidized in the body to
dihydro-ascorbic acid. The latter compound possesses
full Vitamin C activity (Joel et al., 2001). Stress
provokes significant rise in the serum level of ascorbic
acid, and a reduction in its concentration in skin, lungs
and adrenal glands (Zulkifli et al., 2000) showed that,
the mechanism by which ascorbic acid alleviates stress
is not fully understood. However, ascorbic acid is
thought to improve the humoral and cellular immunity,
and thus, increase resistance to infection, defense
mechanism and anti-oxidant status of the animal and
reduce the detrimental effects of certain eicosanoids
(Stilborn et al., 1988). The elimination of reactive
oxygen species could likely be one of modes of
ascorbic acid anti-stress activity (Minka and Ayo,
2008). Previous studies in the tropics had also shown
that ascorbic acid improved the mood of transported
Sokoto red goats and this effect was thought to be due
to the involvement of ascorbic acid in the synthesis of
neurotransmitters involved in the neuro-chemical
balance during neuronal activity of the brain (Ayo et
al., 2006). Transportation is an inevitable husbandry
practice, which livestock are subjected to as a result of
marketing and the need to slaughter them for meat in
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Biobaku et al., / Alexandria Journal of Veterinary Sciences 2016, July. 50(2):24-30
abattoirs, often located outside the places where the
animals are reared (Pineiro et al., 2007; Rajesh et al.,
2003). In general, animals perceive any unusual
manipulation including transportation as stressful, and
this may ultimately have a negative influence on their
welfare. Transportation is an unfamiliar and
threatening event in the life of an animal. It involves
handling, loading, confinement and unloading which
are unavoidably stressful and can lead to distress,
injury or even the death of the animal (von Borell et
al., 2007) Road transportation represents a critical
phase in animal production and utilization. It is often
considered as one of the main causes of physical stress
and it adversely affects production economically and
compromising the animals welfare (Minka and Ayo,
2008). Ruminants require ascorbic acid from time to
time and some reports suggest that the deficiency of
ascorbic acid could manifest as scurvy in man, calves
however had scurvy like skin lesions as symptoms of
ascorbic acid deficiency. Ascorbic acid is important in
increasing the resistance against respiratory diseases
(Eldridge and Winfield, 1988). Young ruminants
require more ascorbic acid during cold stress and
plasma concentration is needed to be increased to
confer immunity to protect the animals (Jagos et al.,
1977) . (Hemingway, 1991) reported that, ascorbic
acid prevents neonatal calve diarrhoea and scours.
With the aforementioned facts, the use of ascorbic acid
in stress alleviation cannot be over emphasized in
animal husbandry , .many studies had been conducted
on its uses in stress alleviation in animals in
transportation .But there is dearth of information as
regards to posological consideration and its effects on
meat product which might be the most practicable
usage
of
pharmacological consideration
to
stakeholders in the livestock industry .The fact that
ascorbic acid is safe in animals and man is a merit.
The objective of this study is to evaluate different
doses of ascorbic acid on meat characteristics of Sahel
bucks subjected to stress at high and low stocking
rates.
Thirty-two apparently healthy Sahel bucks were used
for the experiment. Their ages ranges between one and
half and two years, weighed between 10-14 Kg and
had their universal body score of 3. The animals were
purchased from livestock markets of Sokoto State,
acclimatized for two weeks and were clinically
examined and treated
prophylactically
using
albendazole (Albenzole, Agbara Industries ,Lagos,
Nigeria) and
a combination of penicillin and
streptomycin (penstreptomycin® Kepro, Holland) . The
bucks were fed groundnut hay, cowpea husk and corn
residue the animals were also served with clean fresh
water ad libitum , and were allowed to move freely
semi extensively in a pen with an estimated stocking
rate of above 2m2/goat. Vital parameters and blood
samples were obtained as basal parameters while
weights was taken once weekly in their two weeks of
acclimatization to monitor their health.
2.2 Experimental Design, drug administration and
carcass assessment
A total number of 32 animals were used in the study
comprising of 8 groups of four bucks per group,.
Group I: Are bucks treated with Ascorbic acid at
400mg/kg orally administered (PO); Group II: Were
treated with ascorbic acid at 300mg/kg PO; Group III
: ascorbic acid at 200mg/kg PO; while Group IV :
were the
control non-treated group. Each of
treatments has low and high stocking rates
respectively. The animals were stocked using a high
stocking density which was not in conformity with
standard international regulation and a standard low
stocking rate which is in line with the Animal Disease
Control Act of 1988 of Nigeria and is in agreement
with
standard
international
regulations
for
transportation of goats. Thus, 16 animals were
experimented upon for high stocking rate and 16
stocked using low stocking rate. Three animals each
per group were slaughtered and were used to assess the
effect of ameliorative supplementation of ascorbic acid
on meat product in transportation of Sahel buck.
The Ascorbic acid oral tablets y were graded and
administered orally (Adenkola et al., 2011; Ayo et al.,
2006), at the beginning of the journey at Sokoto and
at Jebba mid-way in to the experimental journey.
A transportation and health certificate was obtained
from the Veterinary unit of Ministry of Forestry and
Animal Health of Sokoto State where the study began.
The bucks used in the experiment were acclimatized
and were used to handling to ensure that the animals
would not be psychologically affected by handling at
loading. The Sahel bucks were handled with care and
2. MATERIALS AND METHODS
2.1 Experimental Animals
Ethical permission for experimentation given by a
board at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Usmanu
Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria. While
monitoring of husbandry practices was carried out by a
personnel from Department of Animal Science of the
University.
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Biobaku et al., / Alexandria Journal of Veterinary Sciences 2016, July. 50(2):24-30
were loaded by four people. Between 09:00 to 10:00h.
The animals at low stocking rate were stocked at
0.30m2per animal; while the animal at high stocking
density was stocked at 0.15m2 per animal. The animals
transported at low stocking density were in line to
international guidelines on transportation of animals.
While the high stocking rate was the stocking rate used
routinely by marketers which is not standard. The floor
the truck was cushioned using sorghum leaves and saw
dust to avoid the animals to come in contact with urine
and faeces in order to avoid sliding
and also to
minimize the risk of transmission of diseases.
Along the journey at Jebba town located along latitude
90o.06' and 9o55' N and longitudes 4 o 02' and4o 05’E.
The animals transported that were stocked using the
low stocking density was rested 12 hours into the
journey and were fed with groundnut hay and wheat
bran and water ad libitum , in conformity with the
Animal Disease Control Act of 1988, of Nigeria and
with the international guidelines for loading and
transportation. While animals that were transported at
high stocking was to simulate non standard used by
marketers.
Twenty four animals were slaughtered in all, 3 bucks
per group using “halal” method which involves the
severing of the jugular vein, carotid arteries trachea
and oesophagus and other structures covered by the
investing fascia of the neck as adopted by(Jibir et al.,
2012).The animal was shaved using shaving blade as
an operation of carcass preparation in South west,
Nigeria. After which the animals is inflated using a
pumping machine specified for usage. The shaving
operation is carried out using a razor or shaving knife
at 30o-60o to the skin, in a direction of the hair strands.
A piece of herbal® soap (Nigeria) containing aloe vera
and water was used for washing and lubrication during
shaving. The head was removed at the atlanto-occipital
joint and the fore and hind limb at the carpal and tarsal
joints. The meat yield parameters including live
weight carcass weight shrinkage percentage, dressing
percentage and empty body weight were assessed
using the method of (Jibir et al., 2012; Kannan et al.,
2002) .Cooking loss test was conducted in which a
chop from the semi-membranous muscle measuring a
length and breadth of 5cm each and is of 1cm
thickness. The weight was taken using a Metlers
digital balance. The percentage loss in weight and
Meat pH was determined using a method described by
(Pethick et al., 2005).Water holding capacity of semimembranous was assessed using filter paper
(Wierbicki & Deatherage, 1958). Meat colour
assessment of rectus abdominis was carried out using
the method of (Colomer-Rocher et al., 1987).
2.3 Statistical Analysis
Analysis of data was carried out using SPSS version
16 and ANOVA of General linear model was used for
the analysis and P<0.05 was considered significant.
3. RESULTS
Results of different doses of ascorbic acid and
stocking rate on various meat characteristics is
presented in table 1 below. There was no significant
(P>0.05) difference in shrinkage. Ascorbic acid at the
dose of 400 and 200mg/kg gives comparatively higher
(P<0.05) dressing percentage than the dressing
percentage in animals administered with 300mg/kg.
Excitatory score value at slaughter was significantly
(P<0.05) higher with the high dose compared with
lower doses of 200mg/kg and 300mg/kg. The ultimate
pH in the group administered with 400mg/kg was
lower (P<0.05) when compared to the other two
treatment groups (200mg/kg and 300mg/kg). The
ultimate pH at low stocking density is significantly
(P<0.05) lower ultimate pH when compared to the
high stocking density.
Figure 1 shows that high dose of ascorbic acid
(400mg/kg) at low stocking rate increases the dressing
percentage, while the same dose at the high stocking
rate decreases the dressing percentage.
The low dose (200mg/kg) of ascorbic acid at low and
high stocking rate produced contrary effect on the
dressing percentage.
Figure 2 shows that at low dose (200 mg/kg) of
ascorbic acid low stocking rate there was increased
excitatory score at slaughter, while the high stocking
rate decreased the level of the excitatory score at
slaughter. The medium dose (300 mg/kg) of ascorbic
acid at low stocking density also decreased the
excitatory score at slaughter, while high stocking rate
increased the excitatory score.
Medium dose (300 mg/kg) of ascorbic acid at low
stocking rate decrease in the pH of chevon while the
same dose at high stocking rate increased ultimate pH .
Figure 3 also showed that at low dose (200 mg/kg) of
ascorbic acid and low stocking rate, the pH was higher
while at high stocking rate it lowered the pH. The high
dose (400 mg/kg) of ascorbic acid at high stocking rate
increased the pH which at low stocking rate lowered
the pH .
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Biobaku et al., / Alexandria Journal of Veterinary Sciences 2016, July. 50(2):24-30
Table 1: Effects of ascorbic acid doses and stocking rate on meat characteristics of Sahel bucks exposed to
long term transportation stress
Meat characteristics
Shrinkage %
Dressing %
Excitatory score at slaughter
Empty body weight (kg)
Water holding capacity %
Ph
Colour
Cooking loss %
Dose
400mg/Kg 300mg/Kg
17.62
19.25
69.45a
52.38b
a
4.00
3.50b
8.90
9.75
45.53
48.13
5.82c
6.00b
80.00c
86.67b
46.75
44.39
200mg/Kg
17.80
66.92a
3.50b
8.78
48.13
6.27a
100.00a
41.10
SEM
3.80
2.96
0.00
0.38
3.07
0.14
12.17
2.22
Stocking rate
High Low
17.84 18.600
82.66 62.06
3.76a 3.67b
9.31
9.00
48.52 44.66
6.26a 5.80b
97.78 80.00
43.61 44.56
SEM
3.11
2.42
0.01
0.32
2.50
0.17
9.94
1.813
Interaction
NS
*
*
NS
NS
*
NS
NS
Values with different superscripts abc along the same row differ significantly (P<0.05)
Higher values of luminosity of meat colour indicate lighter (pink) lower values indicate daker (congested) colour.
NS means no interaction. While * means interaction (P<0.05)
Figure 1: Interaction of ascorbic acid dose and stocking rate on dressing percent. High: (400mg/kg), Low:
(200mg/kg), medium: (300mg/kg)
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Biobaku et al., / Alexandria Journal of Veterinary Sciences 2016, July. 50(2):24-30
Figure 2: Interaction of ascorbic acid dose and stocking rate on excitatory score at slaughter. High: (400mg/kg),
Low: (200mg/kg), medium :( 300mg/kg)
Figure 3: Interaction of ascorbic acid and stocking rate on pH. High (400mg/kg), Low (200mg/kg), medium:
(300mg/kg)
4. DISCUSSION
In this study, ascorbic acid improves behaviour and
excitability score of the animal exposed to stress this
would further improve the animal welfare to prevent
excess water loss, and reduced shrinkage. It could be
explained by the fact that the neuro-endocrine network
regulates fluid adjustment through the hypothalamohypophyseal connection. So ascorbic acid minimizes
anxiety that could be detrimental to neurons. The
stress ameliorative property of ascorbic acid could be
due to its neuro-protective and anti-oxidative property.
This finding is in agreement with previous observation
of (Kannan et al., 2002; Minka and Ayo, 2010) in
short term transportation of goats. The high dose also
had a non-significant effect on dress percentage. These
findings were also reported by(Young et al., 2003)
who observed no significant difference in some meat
characteristics. Similarly, the supplement must have
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Biobaku et al., / Alexandria Journal of Veterinary Sciences 2016, July. 50(2):24-30
improved the protein tryptophan in meat (Christensen
and Redig, 1993) this also might improve the meat
quality. It could be suggested that, ascorbic acid might
have elicited its effect by improving the biochemical
parameters including electrolytes .This prevents
soreness of muscle preventing dark-firm-dry syndrome
due to transport. The metabolism of glycogen in the
muscles might be influenced by ascorbic acid since
there is an association between synthesis of
endogenous ascorbate and glucose in the body thus,
ascorbic acid would decrease loss of glucose and
glycogen utilization that could be detrimental to meat
quality and storage live(Kannan et al., 2002; Minka
and Ayo, 2010). Similarly, (Young et al., 2003)
reported that, ascorbic acid reduce stress-induced
deterioration of chicken meat quality. The ascorbic
acid also influenced the colour of chevon. This could
be due to the effect of ascorbic acid on the myoglobin
in the muscles, it could be inferred that metabolic role
of ascorbic acid prevented the depletion endogenous
ascorbic acid which enhanced metabolism and the
appropriate transportation of oxygen to the myocytes.
This with cytoprotective property of ascorbic acid
prevented the compromise in the walls of the
capillaries and arterioles supplying the muscle tissue.
The explanation is that ascorbic acid is suggested to
have decreased insignificantly pro-inflammatory
cytokines and modulates other anti- inflammatory
cytokines including: IL-6, TNF, IL-1β, and IL-α.
Ascorbic acid also decreased insignificantly cortisol
level at short term transportation stress in Kalahari
goats (un-published data). This would also protect the
muscle tissues against the dark- firm-dry syndrome
after transportation stress and this would improve the
reflection of light on the meat surface and luminosity
evident of light coloured meat and better quality. The
effect of ascorbic acid on meat quality from another
perspective might be due to inhibition of the activation
of nuclear factor Kappa and β, which is a mediator
responsible for inflammation. Ascorbic acid is also
associated with inhibition of other tissue necrosis
factors – alpha (LaLonde et al., 1997). This might
likely be one of the reasons for its alleviation of long
term transportation–induced stress and its value for
improvement of meat quality.
Ascorbic acid at the dose of 400mg/kg was better in
improving the dressing percentages at low density
stocking. This could be due to the fact that higher
doses of ascorbic acid would have improved the
antioxidants concentration in the cells of animals. In
the same vein the ascorbic acid at higher doses
improves upon the adaptability in the animals and also
prevents dehydration(Minka & Ayo, 2010).The
shrinkage of the meat could have been decreased by
the ascorbic acid at 400mg/kg as could be correlated to
the dressing percentage(Kannan et al., 2002). The
lower dose of 200mg/kg of ascorbic acid did not
improve the quality even at low stocking density. This
might be explained by the biochemical phenomenon of
not increasing the antioxidants concentration enough
to adjust to counteract the pro-oxidants simulated by
the stress of transportation .This suggestion is in
agreement with (Adenkola et al., 2009; Adenkola &
Okoro, 2015). The low dose (200 mg/kg) of ascorbic
acid at low stocking rate increased the excitatory score
at slaughter, while the high stocking decreased the
level of the excitatory score at slaughter. The medium
dose (300 mg/kg) of ascorbic acid at low stocking
density decreased the excitatory score at slaughter,
while at high stocking rate it increased the excitatory
score. The dose of ascorbic acid in this case is not a
factor that could directly affect the excitatory score at
slaughter and it could be said that a categoric
assumption cannot be made as per the influence of
ascorbic acid on excitatory score. But it could be
correlated to the work of (Ayo et al., 2006) who
reported that, ascorbic acid influence the excitability
score of Sokoto red goats. Other work
further
supports the fact of its stress alleviating
effect.(Adenkola et al., 2011). This therefore means
that the dose of 200 mg/kg improved the excitability
score at slaughter in the animals used in this study.
This effect could be due to the fact that high doses in
ruminants increase the plasma level of ascorbic acid
which coupled with the endogenously synthesized
ascorbic acid which might increase the excretion of
ascorbate and this might decrease the bioavailability of
ascorbic acid and the area under curve as previously
observed in sheep (Black & Hidiroglou, 1996). This
might account for the ineffectiveness of the higher
doses on the excitatory score. The medium dose (300
mg/kg) of ascorbic acid at low stocking rate decreased
the pH while at high stocking rate increased pH. The
dose therefore improved the pH of the meat unlike
other doses at the low stocking and high stocking
rates. The dose of 300 mg/kg could be could be
suggested to be useful conservation of glycogen and
decrease in muscle glucose which could account for
the decrease in pH and this improves the ultimate pH
of meat.
In conclusion the 400mg/kg of ascorbic acid
improved dressing percentage at low density stocking,
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Biobaku et al., / Alexandria Journal of Veterinary Sciences 2016, July. 50(2):24-30
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