




































In ternationa l
Scholars
Journa ls

 

African Journal of Pig Farming ISSN 2375-0731 Vol. 4 (9), pp. 001-008, September, 2016. Available online at 
www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals 

 

Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. 

 

 

Full Length Research Paper 

 

Haematological and serum biochemical changes in pigs 

administered with ascorbic acid and transported by 

road for four hours during the harmattan season 
 

A.Y. Adenkola1*, J.O. Ayo2, A.K.B. Sackey3 and A. B. Adelaiye4
 

 
1
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, 

Nigeria. 
2
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. 

3
Department of Surgery and Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria. 

4
Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. 

 
Accepted 31 December, 2015 

 
This study was conducted with the aim of investigating the effect of ascorbic acid (AA) on haematology and 
serum biochemical responses of pigs transported for short journey (4 h) during the harmattan season. Sixteen 
pigs administered with AA at a dose of 250 mg/kg per os and individually served as experimental animals, and 
13 others each administered orally with sterile water served as control animals. The animals were then 
transported for 4-h at a speed of 40- 50 km/h covering a distance of 140 km. Blood samples were taken early in 
the morning a day before transportation, immediately after and a week after transportation. The leucocyte count 

(15830.25 ± 1063.08 × 10
3
/µl) dropped (P < 0.05) in the experimental pigs after transportation and the value was 

significantly (P < 0.05) lower than the value of 22010.69 ± 1722.00 × 10
3
/µl obtained in the control pigs after the 

journey. The neutrophils: lymphocyte ratio obtained in the control animals increased from 0.61 ± 0.04 before 
transportation to 0.79 ± 0.17 immediately after transportation. There was a significant (P < 0.05) increase in total 
protein post– transportation in all experimental and control groups, but the increase was higher in the control 
than the experimental group. Alkaline phosphatase and aspartate amino transferase values in the control pigs 
increased immediately after transportation. This study indicates for the first time the beneficial effect of AA 
administration on haematology of pigs transported by road during the harmattan season for short journey of 4 
h. It is, therefore, recommended that pigs be administered with AA before transportation by road during the 
harmattan season in order to reduce the risk of adverse effects of transportation stress on health. 
 
Key words: Ascorbic acid, harmattan season, haematological and biochemical parameters, pigs, road transportation. 
 
 
INTRODUCTION 

 
Road transportation is a critical phase in animal produc-
tion and utilization (Odore et al., 2004; Buckham et al., 

2008a). The intensity and specialization of livestock pro-
duction and the demand for livestock to be marketed and 
slaughtered outside places where they are being pro-
duced have necessitated animal transport all over the 
world (Ayo and Oladele, 1996; Kannan et al., 2000; 
 

 
*Corresponding author. E-mail: aadenkola@yahoo.com. Tel:  
+2348054977696. 

 
 
 
 
 
Perez et al., 2001) and it is often considered as one of 
the main causes of stress (Giovagnoli et al., 2002; Pineiro 
et al., 2007; Adenkola et al., 2008; Buckham et al., 
2008b), adversely affecting production both in econo-mic 
and animal welfare terms (Mormede et al., 1982). 
Physical and psychic exertions occurring during transport 
of food animals disrupt their homeostasis and metabo-
lism, and as a result of the exertion, road transport stress 
increases activity of enzymes and hormones (Ayo and 
Oladele, 1996; Mstl and Palme, 2002; Buckham et al., 

2008a). It has been shown that all stages of transporta- 



 
 
 

 

tion to which pigs are subjected before slaughter or mar-
keting constitute stress factors. They include loading, 
transport, unloading, regrouping of pigs and lairage.  

While pigs are undergoing these stages, they are simul-
taneously subjected to changes in their internal environ-
mental conditions (Ayo et al., 1996; Santoro and Fau-
citano, 1996). Many pigs are transported in Nigeria using 
vehicle not designed for swine transportation and often in 
the harmattan and hot-dry season. These conditions 
adversely affect the health or welfare of the animals and 
impair their homeostatic mechanisms (Mstl and Palme, 
2002; Buckham et al., 2008a) resulting in body dysfunc-
tions which may be fatal.  

Environmental stress causes oxidative stress and 
impairs antioxidants status in vivo (Sahin et al., 2001). 
Antioxidant supplementation, therefore, has been shown 
to be beneficial in attenuating the adverse effect of envi-
ronmental stress (Kafri and Cherry, 1984) and stress-
induced tissue damage (Sen, 2001; Minka et al., 2007a). 
Adenkola and Anugwa (2007) showed that ascorbic acid  
(AA) or vitamin C supplementation improved weight gain 
and better feed utilization in piglets and it is a naturally 
occurring antioxidant (Sahin et al., 2001) and currently is 
the most widely used vitamin supplement throughout the 
world (Naidu, 2003).  

Haematological parameters are good indicators of the 
physiological status of animals (Hawkey and Dennett, 
1989; Adenkola and Durotoye, 2004). It is also an excel-
lent medium for the measurement of potential biomakers, 
because its collection is relatively noninvasive and it 
encompasses an enormous range of physiological pro-
cess in the body at any given time (Anderson and Ander-
son, 2002; Ginsburg and Haga, 2006). Currently in Nige-
ria, there is paucity of information on the haematology 
and serum chemistry of pigs transported by road, espe-
cially during the harmattan season. The harmattan sea-
son occurs in the zone between late November and early 
March, and it is characterized by high ambient tempera-
ture (AT) in the afternoon hours of the day and relatively 

AT of about 10
o
C in the evening and early morning hours 

of the day and the season is characterized by cold-dry 
and dust laden wind (Igono and Aliu, 1982).This zone is 
characterized by intensive livestock marketing and con-
sequently, transportation.  

The aim of the present paper was to investigate the 

impact of road transportation during the harmattan sea-
son on haematology and serum chemistry of pigs admi-

nistered ascorbic acid. 
 

 
MATERIALS AND METHODS 

 
Experimental site 

 
The experiment was performed at the Livestock Pen, Faculty of 

Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Samaru-Zaria (11
0
 

10 N, 07
0
 38 E), located in the Northern Guinea Savannah zone of 

Nigeria during the harmattan season. 

 
 
 
 

 
Experimental animals and management 
 
Twenty nine local pigs, including males and non-pregnant, non-
nursing females, weighing 20-48 kg, and ages ranging from 9- 12 
months were bought from different localities in Zaria environs at 
least two weeks before the experimental day. They were kept at a 

stocking density of 0.8 m
2
 per animals in a communal pen, made of 

concrete floor and iron walls with asbestos roofing. The pen 
measured 7.50 x 2.55 m with half the length of the wall to the roof 
without block work, which provided adequate ventilation. The pigs 
were not restrained inside the pen. They were kept under an 
intensive system of management and fed with maize offal, brewer’s 
waste and yam peel. They were given access to water ad libitum  

The pigs were pre-conditioned for two weeks before the com-
mencement of the experiment. During the period, they were 
screened for haemoparasites and endoparasites by taking their 
blood and faecal samples for laboratory analyses. They were treat-

ed accordingly using oxytetracycline (KEPRO B. V
®

 , Hollland) at 
the dose of 20 mg/kg by deep intramuscular route and thiaben-

dazole (AGVET
®

, U.S.A.) at the dose of 25 mg/kg body weight per 
os. 

 

Experimental design 
 
On the day of transportation, the experimental pigs (n = 16) were 
orally and individually administered with AA at 250 mg/kg 
(Chervyakov et al., 1977) dissolved in 20 ml of water, while 13 pigs 
which served as control were given 20 ml of sterile water. The 
administrations were made immediately (15 min.) before loading 
the pigs into the vehicle.  

Food and water were withdrawn 12 h before the journey and 
throughout the journey period, which lasted 4 h. The vehicle traveled 
along Zaria-Jos road at a speed of 40-50 km/h from Faculty of 

Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (11
0
 10 N, 07

0
 

38 E), on tarred smooth and rough road covering a total distance of 
140 and back to the starting point. After completing the journey, the 
pigs were unloaded at the spot where they were original loaded. The 
animals were fed and watered as they had been prior to the journey. 

 

Vehicle design, loading, and journey time 
 
A standard Ford six wheeler bus, popularly used in Northern Nige-
ria in transportation of livestock was used to transport the pigs. The 
vehicle engine was in good condition, serviced and made ready for 
the journey. The floor of the vehicle was non-slippery and was 
covered with dry beddings before loading the animals. The inner 
compartment of the vehicle measured 3.22 x 1.67 x 1.2 m high. The 
sidewalls of the vehicle from the floor to the roof were made smooth 
with no protrusion of sharp edge and with a window, which provided 
adequate ventilation. Each window measured 0.8 x 0.44 m on both 
sides of the vehicle, was at the height of about 1.0 m from the floor. 
A door which measured 1.4 x 1.2 m was provided at the rear end of 
the vehicle. Other transportation procedures were carried out in 
accordance with the standard guidelines governing the welfare of 
pigs during road transportation (Warris, 1998; Lambooij, 2000) . 

The pigs were stocked at the density of 0.8 m
2
 per animal. They 

were made to stand inside the vehicle in rows facing direction 
against the direction of the vehicle movement. The journey 
commenced at 8:00 am. 
 

 
Blood sample collections 
 
Blood samples were taken early in the morning a day before trans-

portation, immediately after and a week post-transportation. Ten 

millimeters of blood was taken aseptically from the anterior vena 



 
 
 

 

cava using a 10 ml syringe and 18 gauge x 1
1
/2 inch sterile needles 

from each animal. Each blood sample for determination (4 ml) of 

haematological parameters was immediately poured inside a sample 

bottle, containing an anticoagulant, disodium salt of ethy-lene 

diaminetetra- acetic acid (EDTA) at the rate of 2 mg/ml of blood 

(Oyewale, 1992). After collection, the samples were transferred to 

Clinical Pathology Laboratory, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu 

Bello University, Zaria, where they were analysed for pack-ed cell 

volume (PCV) using microhaematocrit method, total leuco-cyte count 

using haemocytometer method as described by Schalm et al. (1975). 

Haemoglobin concentration and differential leucocyte count were also 

determined as described by Schalm et al. (1975). The remaining (6 ml) 

meant for serum chemistry and serum elec-trolyte determination was 

centrifuged and the serum harvested. Alkaline phosphatase was 

determined as described by Chees-brough (1991), aspartate 

aminotransferase (AST) enzyme activity level was determined using the 

Reitman-Frankel AST method described by Cheesbrough (1991), 

Alanine amino transferase, total bilirubin, urea and total cholesterol was 

done as described by Cheesbrough (1991), total protein by biuret 

method, serum albumin by Bromocresol green method as described by 

Cheesbrough (1991), serum globulin was determined by subtracting 

serum albu-min from total protein value. Serum sodium and potassium 

ions was determined by flame emission spectrometry as described by 

Cheesbrough (1991), while serum bicarbonate was done using titri-

metric method as described by Cheesbrough (1991) and chloride level 

was analylsed by the method of Schales and Schales (1941). 
 

 
Statistical analysis 
 
The data obtained were analysed using Graph Pad Prism package 

version 4.00 of 2003. Data were subjected to Student’s t-test and 

values of P < 0.05 were considered significant. 

 

RESULTS 
 
Haematological parameters before, immediately after 

and 7 days post- transportation 
 
The values of haematological parameters obtained be-
fore the journey in experimental and control pigs were not 
significantly different (P > 0.05) . PCV values recorded on 
day 7 after the journey rose (P < 0.05) to 37.38 ± 1.39% 
in the experimental pigs, and the value was significantly 
(P < 0.05) higher than 33.54 ± 1.01% recorded in the 
control pigs post-transportation. The total leucocyte count 

dropped (P < 0.05) from 18920.00 ± 1200.00 x 10
3
/µl in 

the experimental pigs before the journey to 15830.00 ± 

1063.00 x 10
3
/µl after the journey, and the value was sig-

nificantly (P < 0.05) lower than 22010.00 ± 1722.00 x 

10
3
/µl obtained in the control pigs after the journey. The 

values recorded on day 7 post-transportation in the expe-
rimental and control pigs were not significantly different. 
The absolute neutrophil count of 5246.93 ± 429.21 x 

10
3
/µl obtained in the experimental pigs was significantly 

(P < 0.05) lower than the value of 8328.15 x 10
3
/µl re-

corded in control pigs immediately after the journey. 
Although in the control pigs the absolute neutrophil drop-

ped to 6667.07 ± 577.30 x 10
3
/µl on day 7 after the jour-

ney, the value was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than the 

corresponding value of 5058.87 ± 314.44 x 10
3
/µl record-

ed in the experimental pigs (Table 1). The absolute lym- 

  
  

 
 

 

phocyte count of 10450.00 ± 757.05 x 10
3
 /µl obtained 

immediately after the journey in experimental pigs was 
significantly lower (P < 0.05) than 13510.85 ± 1032.04 x 

10
3
/µl recorded in control pigs. Immediately after the 

journey the absolute monocyte count rose when com-
pared with pre-transportation values, but the increase in 
the value was not significantly different in experimental 
and control pigs (P > 0.05).The value increased to 134.76 

± 43.09 x 10
3
/µl in the control pigs on day 7 after the 

journey, and was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than the 

corresponding value of 35.62 ± 16.48 x 10
3
/µl obtained in 

the experimental pigs (Table 1). The neutropils: lympho-
cyte ratio obtained in the control animals increased (P < 
0.05) from pre-transportation value of 0.61± 0.04 to 0.79 
± 0.17 immediately after transportation. 
 

 

Serum biochemical parameters before, immediately 

after and 7-days after four hour road transportation 
 
Table 2 shows the response to serum biochemical 
changes in experimental and control pigs. There was no 
significant difference, in all the parameters between 
experimental and control pigs, before the journey (P > 
0.05). Immediately after the journey, the total protein in 
the experimental pigs did not increase significantly, from 
67.94 ± 1.50 gm/dl to 69.69 ± 1.67 gm/dl, while in the 
con-trol it rose (P < 0.05) to 71.31 ± 1.93 gm/dl from 
67.62 ± 1.29 gm/dl (Table 2). Albumin: globulin ratio of 
1.06 ± 0.12 obtained immediately after transportation 
dropped to 0.87 ± 0.06 (P < 0.05), 7 days post-trans-
portation from 1.11 ± 0.09 obtained before transportation 
in experimental pigs. The value thus increased from 1.30  
± 0.22 immediately after transportation to 1.34 ± 0.12 in 
the control pigs on day 7 post-transportation. However 
there was a significant (P < 0.05) difference in the re-
corded value of experimental and control pigs. The re-

corded HCO3
-
 value of 22.15 ± 0.75 mmol/L obtained 

immediately after transportation in the control pigs rose to 
a value of 24.15 ± 0.80 mmol/L on day 7 post-transpor-
tation (P < 0.05) while the corresponding value in the 

experimental pigs was 21.69 ± 0.84 mmol/L The Cl
-
value 

of 102.70 ± 1.17 mmol/L recorded in experimental pigs 
immediately after transportation decreased (P < 0.05) to 
91.00 ± 1.79 mmol/L on day 7 post-transpor-tation, and 
this value was lower (P < 0.05) than the cor-responding 
value of 96.62 ± 1.22 mmol/L obtained in the control pigs. 
 

Alkaline phosphatase value recorded in the experiment-
tal pigs dropped slightly from the pre-transportation value 
of 40.56 ± 2.85 I.U./L to 39.94 ± 2.85 I.U./L, while the 
value increased in the control pigs from the corres-
ponding value of 40.92 ± 2.92 I.U./L before transportation 
to 48.23 ± 2.36 I.U./L immediately after transportation (P 
< 0.05) (Table 2). However, the value dropped close to 
pre-transportation value on day 7 post-transportation in 
the control pigs. Aspartate amino transferase increased 
significantly in the control pigs from 15.69 ± 1.08 I U./L 



 
 
 

 
Table 1. Haematological parameters of experimental (supplemented with ascorbic acid) and control (non-supplemented with ascorbic 

acid) pigs before short-term road transportation (Mean ± SEM).  
 
            

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**Values with asterisks are significantly different (P < 0.05). 
 

 

pre-transportation to 21.08 ± 1.09 I.U./L imme-
diately after the journey (P < 0.05) . Similar in-
crease was observed in the values obtained in 
experimental pigs, which is not significantly differ-
rent (P > 0.05). The values obtained 7 days post-
transportation were not significantly (P > 0.05) 
different in the experimental and control pigs 
(Table 3). The urea value recorded immediately 
after transportation rose (P < 0.05) in the control 
pigs from 4.67 ± 0.25 mg/100 ml pre-transpo-
rtation to 6.79 ± 0.39 mg/100 ml. However, the 
value dropped to 4.14 ± 0.23 mg/100 ml in the 
control pigs 7 days after transportation (Table 2), 
which was not significantly different from the 
corresponding value recorded in experimental 
pigs (P > 0.05). 

 
 

DISCUSSION 

 

The fact that there was no change in the PCV va-
lue immediately after transportation in the present 
study makes it agree with the result obtained by 
Scope et al. (2002) who did not obtain significant 

change in the value of PCV of racing pigeons after 

4-h road transportation. This is also similar to the 

 
 

 

observation of Knowles et al. (1999b) who demon-
strated that PCV value in transported cattle show-
ed no consistency. The observed increase in the 
value of PCV on day 7 post-transportation in all 
the transported pigs was within the normal range 
for pigs while the higher value obtained in the 
experimental pigs may be attributed to the ability 
of AA to maintain the integrity of erythrocyte mem-
brane in AA-treated group (Candan et al., 2002). 
The higher value of leucocytes observed imme-
diately post-transportation in control pigs is similar 
to the finding of Buckham-Sporer et al. (2008) who 
demonstrated leucocytosis in transported young 
beef bulls and that it is one of the bio-makers of 
transportation stress. The results of the study 
suggested that AA prevented the release of 
leucocytes from their pool in the body into peri-
pheral circulation in experimental pigs, apparently 
due to its inhibitory role on circulating cortices-
teroids which is known to increase in animals 
under stress and cause leucocytosis. Also a de-
crease in AA in the body tissues, especially in 
adrenal glands is known to be associated with 
corticosteroid release (Whitehead and Keller, 
2003). The depletion of AA in the pigs was pre-
vented in the present study by its exogenous 

 
 

 

supply prior to transportation of pigs. 
Road transportation of pigs did not alter eosino-

phil count significantly in experimental and control 
pigs. This result disagreed with those obtained in 
goats by New et al. (1996) and Minka and Ayo 
(2007), who recorded an increase in eosinophil 
count following road transportation. The difference 
in the findings may be attributed to species dif-
ference and different conditions of transportation 
in the animals Monocytosis was observed fol-
lowing road transportation in control pigs, but not 
in experimental pigs. Again this finding disagreed 
with the results of Scope et al. (2002), who did not 
observe any significant changes in monocyte 
count in transported racing pigeons for 4 h by 
road. The neutrophilia observed in the present 
study in the control pig was apparently due to the 
decrease effect of AA, which has been shown to 
increase the release of corticosterone into the 
peripheral circulation from the body pools. 
Although the mechanism involved was not eluci-
dated in this study, Whitehead and Keller (2003) 
has reported the release of corticosteroids in 
stressed layer chickens, which in turn is involved 
in the mobilization of neutrophils to peripherals cir-
culation from the body pools. Lymphopenia obser- 



  
 
 

 
Table 2. Serum biochemical parameters of experimental (supplemented with ascorbic acid) and control (non-supplemented with ascorbic 

acid) pigs, before and immediately (30 min) after short-term road transportation (Mean ± SEM).  
 
  Before Transportation After Transportation 

 Parameters Experimental (n= 17) Control (n =12) Experimental (n = 17) Control (n =12) 

 Total Protein (gm/dl) 67.94 ± 1.50
NS

 67.62 ± 1.29
NS

 69.69 ± 1.67
**

 71.31 ± 1.93
**

 

 Globulin (gm/dl) 33.81 ± 1.83
NS

 30.85 ± 1.77
NS

 35.56 ± 2.24
NS

 33.77 ± 2.66
NS

 

 Albumin (gm/dl) 34.75 ± 0.95
NS

 36.77 ± 1.23
NS

 34.13 ± 1.04
NS

 37.54 ± 1.73
NS

 

 Albumin:Globulin 1.11 ± 0.09
NS

 1.26 ± 0.11
NS

 1.06 ± 0.12
NS

 1.30 ± 0.22
NS

 

 Na
+
 (mmol/L) 140.70 ± 1.58

NS
 141.90 ± 1.71

NS
 144.80 ± 1.09

NS
 144.50 ± 1.92

NS
 

 K
+
 (mmol/L) 6.25 ± 0.19

NS
 6.09 ± 0.21

NS
 6.06 ± 0.19

NS
 6.14 ± 0.16

NS
 

 HCO3
-
 (mmol/L) 24.83 ± 0.68

NS
 24.62 ± 0.89

NS
 21.25 ± 0.85

NS
 22.15 ± 0.75

NS
 

 Cl
-
 (mmol/L) 104.40 ± 1.46

NS
 104.50 ± 1.15

NS
 102.70 ± 1.17

NS
 102.70 ± 1.72

NS
 

 Alkaline phosphatase (I.U./L) 40.56 ± 2.85
NS

 40.92 ± 2.92
**

 39.94 ± 2.85
**

 48.23 ± 2.36
**

 

 Aspartate amino transferase (I.U./L) 16.75 ± 1.04
NS

 15.69 ± 1.08
NS

 17.75 ± 1.04
**

 21.08 ± 1.09
**

 

 Alanine amino transferase (I.U./L) 32.13 ± 1.42
NS

 32.69 ± 1.25
**

 26.06 ± 1.85
**

 26.54 ± 2.30
**

 

 Cholesterol (mg/100ml) 4.37 ± 0.26
NS

 4.14 ± 0.24
NS

 10.74 ± 3.31
**

 4.73 ± 0.22
NS

 

 Bilirubin (mg/100ml) 9.06 ± 0.59
NS

 9.23 ±  0.74
NS

 8.81 ± 0.59
NS

 8.92 ± 0.66
NS

 

 Urea (mg/100ml) 5.29 ± 0.19
NS

 4.67 ± 0.25
**

 5.29 ± 0.18
**

 6.79 ± 0.39
**

 
 
**Values with asterisks are significantly different (P < 0.05). 
 

 
Table 3. Serum biochemical parameters of experimental (supplemented with ascorbic acid) and 

control (non-supplemented with ascorbic acid) pigs on day 7 after short -term road transportation 

(Mean ± SEM).  
 

 Parameters Experimental (n = 16) Control (n = 13)  

 Total Protein (gm/dl) 73.50 ± 1.97
NS

 67.77 ± 2.00
NS

  

 Globulin (gm/dl) 40.19 ± 2.01
**

 30.00 ± 1.93
**

  

 Albumin (gm/dl) 33.31 ± 0.97
**

 37.77 ± 1.68
**

  

 Albumin:Globulin 0.87 ± 0.06
**

 1.34 ± 0.12
**

  

 Na
+
 (mmol/L) 139.40 ± 1.40

NS
 142.80 ± 2.20

NS
  

 K
+
 (mmol/L) 5.46 ± 0.13

NS
 5.38 ± 0.20

NS
  

 HCO3
-
 (mmol/L) 21.69 ± 0.84

**
 24.15 ± 0.80

**
  

 Cl
-
 (mmol/L) 91.00 ± 1.79

**
 96.62 ± 1.22

**
  

 Alkaline phosphatase (I.U./L) 43.75 ± 2.63
NS

 39.85 ± 1.42
NS

  

 Aspartate amino transferase (I.U./L) 18.75 ± 1.24
**

 19.54 ± 1.44
**

  

 Alanine amino transferase(I.U./L) 32.88 ± 1.59
**

 26.77 ± 2.07
**

  

 Cholesterol (mg/100ml) 4.79 ± 0.25
NS

 4.66 ± 0.20
NS

  

 Bilirubin (mg/100ml) 9.38 ± 0.68
NS

 9.46 ± 0.79
NS

  

 Urea (mg/100ml) 4.50 ± 0.27
NS

 4.14 ± 0.23
NS

  
 

**Values with asterisks are significantly different (P < 0.05). 
 

 

observed in the experimental pigs could be attributed to 
the depressive effects of road transportation on lymphoid 
tissues, which according to Spain (1975) results in anti-
body depression, and impaired migration of phagocytic 
cells (Spain, 1975). This is in agreement with the findings 
Sudakov (1992), who showed that adrenocoticotropic 
hormone (ACTH) and glucocorticoids cause regression of 
lymphoid tissue due to stress.  

The increase in neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio after trans-
portation agrees with the findings of Rajion et al. (2001), 

who observed increase in the ratio following road trans- 

 
 

 

portation in goats. The result also is in agreement with 
the established fact that the parameter is a good indicator 
of stress in goats (Rajion et al., 2001; Minka and Ayo, 
2007), calves (Fraser and Brown, 1990) and broiler chic-
ken (Zulkifli et al. , 2001). Thus, an increase in neutrophil: 
lymphocyte ratio and a decrease in lymphocyte count 
obtained in the present study are consistent with the 
finding that neutrophilia, which occurs during stress, state 
stimulates the anterior pituitary gland to secrete ACTH. 
The circulating ACTH in turn induces the adrenal cortex 
to produce glucocorticoids, involved in the mobilisation of 



 
 
 

 

neutrophils from body pool into the pheripheral circula-
tion. The increase in the neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio was 
more pronounced in control than experimental pigs be-
cause the control pigs that were not treated with AA 
appeared more stressed than the experimental pigs. 
Neutrophilia has been shown to be necessary for in-
crease in body resistance to stress situations (Dohms 
and Metz, 1991). The neutrophil: lymphocyte ratio is an 
indication of the activity of the hyphothalamus-adreno-
hypophyseal adreno-cortical-axis, and it increases with 
the degree of stress acting upon the body. The ratio has 
been shown to be one of the most sensitive and lasting 
indicators of physiological stress in poultry (Whitehead 
and Keller, 2003), goats and calves (Fraser and Broom, 
1990).  

There was a significant (P < 0.05) increase in total pro-
tein (TP) post-transportation in all the experimental and 
control groups, but the value was higher in the control 
than the experimental group. This finding is in agreement 
with the observation of Broom et al. (1999a) that pigs 
subjected to 24 -h road transportation suffered severe 
dehydration as the concentration of TP increased signify-
cantly. Similar results were obtained in sheep by Knowles 
et al. (1996) and in calves by (Knowles et al., 1999a) and 
Rajesh et al. (2003). The significant increase in the value 
of globulin and albumin recorded on day 7 post-transpor-
tation is in agreement with the findings of Knowles et al. 
(1994), who reported a definite increase in total plasma 
protein, plasma albumin and plasma globulin due to 
transportation and that the concentrations of the proteins 
were restored relatively to normal values during the rest-
ing period in lairage.  

The high AT and RH recorded during the transportation 
have been shown to cause heat stress, resulting in se-
vere dehydration and, consequently, clinical haemo-con-
centration that may increase total protein; plasma albu-
min and globulin. Excessive cortisol level released during 
stressful conditions may also cause diuresis to compli-
cate the already aggravated situations. Sodium, potas-
sium and chloride are involved in various fundamental 
physiological processes, including the maintenance of 
normal osmotic equilibrium, maintenance of normal water 
balance and distribution, acid-base equilibrium and 
neuromuscular function. Non-significance in the values of 
these parameters post-transportation in experimental and 
control pigs indicated that AA administration as well as 4-
h road transportation did not affect these important 
physiological parameters in pigs. The increase in chloride 
value in control pigs over experimental group on day 7 
post-transportation may be attributed to an increase in 
capillary permeability with loss of colloidal protein into the 
tissues.  

The increase in alkaline phosphatase and aspartate 
aminotransferase activities observed in control pigs 
immediately after transportation may be due to increased 
hepatocellular destruction and muscular degeneration as a 
result of the road transportation stress. This finding is in  
agreement with the results obtained by Hong et al. (2007) 

 
 
 
 

 

who observed changes in serum enzyme activities after 
transporting pigs due to tissue damage in transport-
stressed pigs. Sahin et al. (2002) reported that the con-
centration of antioxidant AA in the serum and liver de-
creases with stress.  

The increased level of urea observed following trans-
portation was, apparently, due to feed deprivation and 
elevated cortisol concentration as established by several 
authors (Dalin et al., 1993; Stull and Rodiek, 2000; Kan-
nan et al., 2000; Odore et al., 2004), and also as a result 
of increased catabolism of protein caused by hypogly-
caemia. It has been shown that stress induces AA deple-
tion in the adrenal glands, and this is associated with 
corticosterone release (Sahota et al., 1995). Maintenance 
of high adrenal gland concentrations of AA by dietary 
supplementation has been found to limit the rise in circu-
lating corticosterone concentration under stress (Pardue 
et al., 1985). AA is known to increase blood glucose level, 
which decreases in animals subjected to stressful 
conditions, especially during road transportation (Sauber-
hich, 1994; Hassanzadech, 1997). 

 

Conclusion 
 
The results of the present study demonstrated for the first 
time the beneficial effect of AA administration on haema-
tology and serum chemistry of pigs transported by road 
during the harmattan season for short journey of 4 h. It is, 
therefore, recommended that pigs be administered with  
AA before transportation by road during the harmattan 

season in order to reduce the risk of adverse effects of 

transportation stress on health. 

 
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