Determination of reference physiological values for working donkeys of Ethiopia

This study was undertaken with the aim of determining reference physiological values for working Ethiopian donkeys in four districts of Oromiya regional state by taking vital signs (body temperature, pulse and respiration rate) and gut sounds from a total of 130 apparently healthy donkeys. The mean values of body temperature obtained in this study for young, adult, and old donkeys were 37.90±0.74oC, 37.80±0.78oC and 37.70±0.63oC, respectively. For female and male donkeys it was 37.88±0.79oC and 37.83±0.73oC, respectively. The mean values of pulse rate per minute for young, adult and old donkeys were 55.40±9.93, 47.60±5.47 and 47.60±5.47, respectively. For female and male donkeys it was 51.62±11.32 and 49.69±8.59, respectively. Pulse rate and heart rate had strong correlation (r=0.824; p<0.000). The mean values of respiration rate per minute as determined by nostril movement for young, adult and old donkeys were 28.7±8.18, 26.90±.9.40 and 28.40±7.79, respectively. It was 28.40±9.84 and 27.50±8.16 for female and male donkeys, respectively. There was no statistically significant (p>0.05) difference in nostril movement, abdominal movement and tracheal sound between daytime (morning Vs noon), age group and sex. However, strong and positive correlation (r=0.80; p<0.000) was observed among the three sites of determining respiration. There was statistically significant difference (p<0.000) in gut sounds heard at the right para-lumbar fossa (RPF), left para-lumbar fossa (LPF) and lower flank regions (LFR) during the times of day: more frequent and stronger at noon than in the morning. There was also a significant difference (p<0.004) between young and old age groups in the value of RPF and LPF. The effect of age, sex and time of day on the references values should be taken into consideration in making physical clinical examination and interpreting physiological parameters.