Carting capacity of mules during trotting in arid region

Abstract

Two mules weighing 391±22.67 kg were used in carting to pull load equal to two and three times of their live weight including the weight of the operator. The weight of the cart was 170.0 kg. Mules carried each load for three days. The mules walked 5 km in first stretch and then rest of 20 min was given. After rest, mules again walked for 5 km and thus completed a total of 10 km, during the work. The mules were not walking but trotting. All physiological indices (pulse rate, respiration rate, and rectal temperature) increased significantly after work and resumed normal by the next morning. The mean values of pulse rate (PR), respiration rate (RR), and rectal temperature (RT) before work during two times (x2) load were 32.67±0.88, 26.67±0.49, and 36.49±0.30. The mean values of PR, RR, and RT after completion of 5 km and 10 km distance were 74.33±3.56, 51.67±3.02, 38.35±0.09 and 75.67±0.56, 50.00±1.06, 38.31±0.20, respectively. The mean values of PR, RR, and RT observed after 20-minute rest after completion of 5 and 10 km were 33.83±1.17, 29.00±2.45, 37.52±0.22 and 36.67±0.88, 31.50±0.43, 38.20±0.09, respectively. The mean values of PR, RR, and RT before work during three times (x3) load were 33.5±0.76,26.83±0.48, and 36.72±0.07, respectively. The mean values of PR, RR, and RT after completion of 5 km and 10 km distance were 81.5±0.76, 61.67±1.33, 38.63±0.05 and 91.33±1.99, 68.83±3.53, 38.65±0.0, respectively. The mean values of physiological indices observed after 20-minute rest after completion of 5 and 10 km were 41.00±0.36, 34.83±0.48, 37.57±0.07 and 45.17±0.95, 36.67±0.99, 38.08±0.05, respectively. Biochemical indices and fatigue symptoms indicated that mules carrying two times of their body weight were able to carry the load without stress, whereas, under the three times of body weight, mules were fatigued as indicated by biochemical indices and fatigue symptoms.