Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare www.iiste.org ISSN 2224-3208 (Paper) ISSN 2225-093X (Online) Vol.4, No.16, 2014 117 The Effect of Tinospora crispa (L) on Performance, Rectal Temperature, Pulse and Respiratory Frequency of Local Sheep Kept in Different Type of House Abdullah Naser * ,Padang Hamid, Sirajuddin Abdullah, Kaharuddin Kasim Faculty of Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, University of Tadulako, Palu, 94118, Indonesia *E-mail of the corresponding author: aba_naser@yahoo.com Abstract A study was conducted to determine the effects of Tinospora crispa and type of house on body weight gain, dry matter intake, rectal temperature, pulse and respiratory frequency of local (fat tail) sheep. The study was done at the Faculty of Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, University of Tadulako, Indonesia for 56 days. A total of 18 local sheep (fat tail) wer used in this study. The sheep were alocated into 18 individual pen. The sheep were acclimatized to house condition for the first two weeks, from days 1 to 14, and data collection was from days 15 to 56. The sheep were fed 1% concentrate and 2% maize forage of live body weight. A total of 2% maize forage of live body weight was offered after consuming the concentrate. The amount of feed offered to the sheeps was adjusted weekly according to live body weight. The sheeps were fed at 08.00 hour, and water was available at all times. Different concentration of water-extracted Tinospora crispa (1%, 2% and 3%) was given to the sheep by mixing it with dringking water. Body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion rasio, rectal temperature, pulse and respiratory frequency were measured as parameters. A split plot design was adopted in this experiment with 2 different type of house (close and open houses) as a main plot, 3 treatment diets (levels of Tinospora crispa) as a sub-plot and three replications. Data were analysed by analysis of variance using the Minitab. Results of analysis of variance showed that the using open house increased body weight gain and feed efficiency. Diets containing 3% Tinospora crispa in drinking water produced higher body weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion efficiency. Interaction between type of house and levels of Tinospora crispa was found in body weight gain and feed conversion efficiency. Open house could improve body weight gain and feed conversion efficiency when the drinking water contained 1 and 3% water - extracted Tinospora crispa, while sheeps fed 2% water – extracted Tinospora crispa in open house had the same body weight gain and feed conversion efficiency as sheep kept in the close house. In conclusion, Type of house affect and levels of Tinospora crispa affected body weight gain and feed conversion efficiency and interaction between type of house and levels of Tinospora crispa was found in body weight gain and feed conversion efficiency. Keywords: Tinospora crispa, Type of house, performace, sheep 1. Introduction Since climate directly influences the physiological condition of the animal, controlling micro-climate in the house is one of the main concerns to minimize the negative impact of hot temperature and high humidity (Anderson , 1983), particularly in the tropical region. Although, sheep has been reported to easily adapt to the wide range of temperature (Edey, 1983). High temperature may deteriorate the production of the sheep. According to Sutherland (1973), when the temperature rises above the critical point at 39° C, the heat load of the body begins to rise. The heat will be released into the environment in the form of water as a product of evaporation through the mouth, and lungs. According to Curtis and Stanley (1981) thresholds temperature for sheep skin to sweat are at an ambient temperature of 32° C. While the rectal temperature of 39.5 ° C, sheep tended to breath faster to reach 300 beats per minute, being above the normal breath of 20-50 times per minute. Once the rectal temperature reached 41° C, sheep suffers from panting (Hafez , 1968). Church (1988) stated that heat load and other stresses can affect feed intake, in whcih mild heat stress with an ambient temperature of 25° C - 35° C could decrease feed intake by 3- 10 %. House plays a role in reducing heat stress in livestock. Devendra (1994) stated that in the presence of temperature and heavy rainfall in the tropics, a good house with good ventilation and roofs can effectively provide prevention against solar radiation. Another environmental factor affecting productivity of sheep is thhe diet consumed. When sheep are fed only forage, nutrient requirements for growth are not sufficient. Therefore it is necessary to find alternative feedstuffs that are cheap and readily available to minimize production cost and to achieve optimum production. Tinospora crispa (L) (family of Menispermaceae) is popularly known in Indonesia as “Bratawali”. This plant has been traditionally used as herbal remedy with several benefits, such as: improve respiratory organ function and increase appetite (Sulaiman et al., 2008 and Rudeewan et al., 2010). These functions may be associated with many types of chemical compounds found in this plant, such as: flavonoid , alkaloids, tannins and saponins