EFFECT OF SEASON ON OXIDATIVE STRESS MARKER OF WAD SHEEP FED GRADED LEVELS OF DIETARY TAURINE

Abstract

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of season on oxidative stress marker of West African Dwarf (WAD) sheep fed graded levels of dietary taurine. Thirty-two (32) WAD sheep involving both sexes with an average weight of 12kg were fed taurine supplemented diets and evaluated in a Completely Randomized Design involving four dietary treatments with four replicates of two animals each containing 0, 0.5, 1 and 1.5% levels of inclusion of taurine. The study was carried out during the wet season (July - October) and dry season (January - April). Blood samples were taken for determination of the following oxidative stress marker; catalase, Superoxide dismutase, Glutathione Stransferases and Glutathione peroxidase. Means were separated using pair wise-difference. The study revealed that there was no significant (P>0.05) concentration. However, Catalase was107.89U/ml during the wet season and 108.6U/ml during the dry season. The concentration of SOD was similar (P>0.05) in both seasons. The SOD activity was 7.88U/ml during the wet season and 6.97U/ml during the dry season. GSTs concentration was 4.25U/ml during the wet season and 3.66U/ml during the dry season. GPX activity was similar (P>0.05) in both wet season (1.99U/ml) and dry season (2.42U/ml). It was concluded that taurine is a good antioxidant that has the potential of masking the effect of stress cumulating from seasonal variations and imbalances.