Diurnal fluctuations in rectal temperature of the Red Sokoto goat during the harmattan season.

Experiments were performed on 11 adult Red Sokoto goats (RSG) with the aim of determining their diurnal temperature fluctuations during the harmattan season. The rectal temperatures (RT) of goats were recorded with a standard clinical thermometer every hour from 06:00 to 19:00 hours. The RT of goats rose gradually from its minimum value of 38.3+/-0.1 degrees C at 06:00 hours and attained its peak value of 39.2+/-0.1 degrees C at 18:00 hours (P < 0.001). Thus, the RT values rose concurrently with increase in ambient temperature. The overall mean RT obtained was 38.7+/-0.1 degrees C. The diurnal fluctuation in the RT of the goats was 1.9+/-0.1 degrees C. There was a highly significant correlation between time of day and RT values (r = 0.947, P < 0.001). The results indicate a diurnal rhythm in the RT of the RSG, which agree with the established pattern of fluctuations in the RT of other breeds of goats. The high diurnal range of 1.9+/-0.1 degrees C confirms that the harmattan season is thermally stressful to the RSG.