The Effects of Water Restriction on Physiological Responses in Fattening Beef Cattle

Abstract

To determine the relation between water restriction and various physiological responses in a hot and cold environment, an investigation was carried out both in summer and in winter.The results are as follows. The water requirement of cattle is determined principally by the physical form and quantity of the ration consumed and the amount of water evaporated from the body surface for cooling. On dairy cattle in a hot environment, OKAMOTO et al.1) suggested that water consumption was related to thermoregulation and LITTLE et al.2) reported that reduction in water intake was associated with decrease in milk yield.Therefore, water shortage may be a factor which depresses the animal productivity.

Water restriction in goats during hot-dry season in the humid tropics: feed intake and weight gain

“…Goats subjected to 67% water restriction level ate 402.8 gDM (60.6 gDM/W kg 0.75 ) as against 445.8 gDM (67.0 gDM/W kg 0.75 ) in 33% and 446.0 gDM (67.6 gDM/W kg 0.75 ) in goats that received water ad libitum. The reduction in dry matter intake observed in the present study agrees with Atta (1977), Togashi and Tanaka (1979), Lautier et al (1988), Aganga et al (1989), Ikhatua et al (1992), and Abdelatif and Ahmed (1994) that reported decreased feed intake in various ruminant species when water availability is limited. Gordon (1965) reported that feed intake of sheep declined noticeably by the second day without water.…”

“…Sheep deprived of water for more than 48 h were found to grow lean and felt dizzy (Umunna et al, 1981). Loss of weight was reported in Yankasa sheep (Aganga et al, 1989), fattening beef cattle (Togashi and Tanaka, 1979), dairy cows (Burgos et al, 2001) deprived water for varying lengths of time.…”

Restricción de agua en cabras en el trópico húmedo durante la estación seca y cálida: ingestión de alimento y ganancia de peso.

“…Goats subjected to 67% water restriction level ate 402.8 gDM (60.6 gDM/W kg 0.75 ) as against 445.8 gDM (67.0 gDM/W kg 0.75 ) in 33% and 446.0 gDM (67.6 gDM/W kg 0.75 ) in goats that received water ad libitum. The reduction in dry matter intake observed in the present study agrees with Atta (1977), Togashi and Tanaka (1979), Lautier et al (1988), Aganga et al (1989), Ikhatua et al (1992), and Abdelatif and Ahmed (1994) that reported decreased feed intake in various ruminant species when water availability is limited. Gordon (1965) reported that feed intake of sheep declined noticeably by the second day without water.…”

“…Sheep deprived of water for more than 48 h were found to grow lean and felt dizzy (Umunna et al, 1981). Loss of weight was reported in Yankasa sheep (Aganga et al, 1989), fattening beef cattle (Togashi and Tanaka, 1979), dairy cows (Burgos et al, 2001) deprived water for varying lengths of time.…”