The effect of water-restriction on various physiological variables in intensively reared Lacaune ewes

Abstract

ABSTRACT:The effects of water restriction on rectal temperature, respiratory rate and selected blood variables in intensively reared Lacaune ewes were evaluated. The tests were carried out over the course of 28 days in spring on 30 lactating sheep divided into three groups of 10 animals each, matched by lactation status and body weight and allocated into individual boxes. The animal groups were as follows: control group W100 with drinking water for the whole day (24 h/24 h), while the two experimental groups each received 80% (W80 group) and 60% (W60 group) of the water ration of the control group, respectively. The feed, in according with physiological and production needs of the animals, was administered in three daily meals (08:00, 14:00 and 20:00 h). Water intake was recorded three times per day (at 08:00, 14:00 and 20:00 h) and the daily feed intake at 08:00 h, while the rectal temperature, respiratory rate were measured and blood samplings were carried out on Day 0, Day 14 and Day 28. In water-restriction groups (W80 and W60) a lower (P < 0.01) feed intake of meadow hay, and a lower ingestion of alfalfa hay pellet in the W60 group compared to W100 group were observed. In addition, the water restriction regimen resulted in a significant decrease of respiratory rate (P < 0.05) and an increase in serum total protein, urea, creatinine, sodium, chlorine, reactive oxygen metabolites, cortisol, haemoglobin and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (P < 0.05), red blood cell counts, and haematocrit (P < 0.01). These results show the important role of water, as limiting factor for animal breeding in low-water availability environments. Where possible, the management of low-dairy breeds should be well adapted to support the productive performance.

Resilience of Lambs to Limited Water Availability without Compromising Their Production Performance

“…Although plasma/serum volume was not measured during the study, previous studies have shown the relevance of serum osmolality in determining the dehydration status of small ruminants [29,43]. The observed higher serum concentration of total proteins in water-restricted lambs might help in maintaining the blood oncotic pressure in water-stressed animals as the loss of water results in hemoconcentration and hypovolemia [53]. It is interesting that the observed lower DMI herein due to water restriction did not result in a decreased serum concentration of total proteins, as previously reported in ewes [18,54].…”

Effect of hydric stress on intake, growth performance and nutritional status of Nguni goats

“…The need to effectively utilise the limited water within the animal's body normally results in increased water reabsorption; consequently, urea is increasingly reabsorbed (nephron level) giving its high permeability (Hamadeh et al 2006). Other water restriction studies in goats (Alamer 2006;Abdelatif et al 2010) and sheep (Jaber et al 2004;Casamassima et al 2016) reported increased urea concentrations.…”

Effet de la salinité et de la restriction de l’eau d’abreuvement sur les métabolites sanguins des caprins Arbia en Algérie

“…La privation d'eau de 25 % a augmenté significativement les concentrations sériques en protéines totales et en créatinine chez les chèvres Arbia, comparativement à l'hydratation normale. Plusieurs auteurs ont noté une augmentation des deux paramètres lors d'une épreuve de déshydratation, notamment Eltayeb (2000) chez les chèvres Nubiennes, Alamer (2005) chez des chèvres d'Arabie Saoudite, Aganga et al (1988) chez des caprins Maradi, et Casamassima et al (2016) chez des brebis Lacaunes. Cependant, une augmentation modérée du taux de créatinine plasmatique a été observée après trois jours de restriction hydrique chez le mouton Barki (Abdelatif et Ahmed, 1994).…”

“…Dans notre étude, la salinité de l'eau d'abreuvement n'a pas eu d'effet significatif sur le niveau de glucose plasmatique chez les caprins de race locale, comme rapporté par Eltayeb (2000) chez des chèvres Nubiennes. D'autres auteurs ont fait le même constat chez les ovins (Casamassima, 2016) Dans la présente étude, l'urémie a été significativement influencée par la restriction hydrique. Ainsi, les animaux du lot 4, partiellement privés d'eau d'abreuvement, ont présenté des valeurs d'urée sérique significativement supérieures à celles des autres lots.…”

“…En revanche,Casamassima et al (2016) ne rapportent aucun effet de la restriction hydrique sur la cholestérolémie chez les brebis Lacaunes. Ils attribuent ces résultats contradictoires à l'effet de la race et au fait que les ovins diffèrent dans leurs capacités respectives à répondre à la restriction de l'eau.…”