title: Influence of season on daytime behavioral activities of donkeys in the Northern Guinea Savanna zone of Nigeria.
abstract: The present experiment was performed with the aim of investigating the effect of season on behavioral activities of donkeys during the rainy and harmattan seasons in the Northern Guinea zone of Nigeria. Sixteen apparently healthy donkeys were used as subjects and divided into four groups based on age. During each season, behavioral activities of each donkey were evaluated for three weeks using the focal animal sampling technique. The dry-bulb temperature (DBT), relative humidity (RH), and temperature-humidity index (THI) were obtained three times each day during the experimental period using standard procedures. In the rainy season, the mean DBT (31.65 ± 0.49°C), RH (73.63 ± 1.09%), and THI (84.39 ± 0.71) were significantly (P<0.0001) higher than the corresponding values of 24.00 ± 0.44°C, 36.80 ± 0.92%, and 64.80 ± 0.62 in the harmattan season. During the rainy season, the donkeys spent 60.00 ± 0.77%, 25.40 ± 0.69%, and 2.94 ± 0.21% on grazing, resting, and grooming, respectively. During the harmattan season, the donkeys spent the most time on grazing (76.76 ± 0.43%), less time on resting (11.97 ± 0.38%), and the least time on grooming (0.89 ± 0.05%). In conclusion, season and seasonal variations affect the daytime behavioral activities of donkeys in the zone, and this should be considered in husbandry practices for donkeys.
authors: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, PMB 1045, Zaria, Nigeria.
authors: Friday Ocheja
authors: FO
authors: Zakari
authors: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, PMB 1045, Zaria, Nigeria.
authors: Joseph Olusegun
authors: JO
authors: Ayo
authors: National Animal Production Research Institute, Ahmadu Bello University, PMB 1096, Zaria, Nigeria.
authors: Peter Ibrahim
authors: PI
authors: Rekwot
authors: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, PMB 1045, Zaria, Nigeria.
authors: Mohammed Umar
authors: MU
authors: Kawu
keywords: behavior; daytime; donkey; rainy and harmattan seasons