title: [The effect of a reduced drinking water dose on the digestibility of nutrients and several metabolic parameters in sheep. 2. N-balance, water balance and several physiologic parameters].
abstract: Wethers of an average live weight of 43.2 kg received alfalfa pellets either according to maintenance requirement (1.3 kg = group I) or ad libitum (1.5 times the amount; 2.0 kg = group II). In variant a both groups received water ad libitum, in variant b the animals received 1/3 of the amount of water, which was taken in ad libitum. Apparent digestibility was between 59 and 64%, the lower value of which was ascertained with the higher feed intake in variant a. 85% of the apparently digested nitrogen were excreted in urine after optimal water supply and ca. 100% after reduced water supply, so that a slightly negative N balance (Ib) and an N balance of +2.3% res (IIb) were achieved. The N balances amounted to +9.4% (Ia) and +8.4% (IIa) resp. after sufficient water supply. The water intake in liters/kg consumed DM reached the following values (in brackets total water intake from drinking water + water in the feed): Ia = 3.16 (3.30), Ib = 1.38 (1.52), IIa = 2.94 (3.08) and IIb = 1.58 (1.72). The water balance (in % of the total water intake) reached the following values in the same sequence: 13.7, 13.2, 17.2 and 25.3. The water content of the body (according to the phenazone dilution method determined from one sheep each) decreased in Ib by 4.7% and in IIb by 5.7% and thus did not reach critical limits. The quota of urea N in urine significantly increased after water restriction. Urea concentration and haematocrit in the blood plasma did not show any significant changes in dependence on water intake; the same was ascertained for the molar quotas of volatile fatty acids in the rumen fluid and in faeces.
authors.affiliation: Sektion Tierproduktion und Veterinärmedizin der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bergner
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kijora
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bartelt
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D004063:Digestion; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile / Q000032:analysis; D005243:Feces / Q000032:analysis; D006400:Hematocrit / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D012417:Rumen / Q000032:analysis; D012756:Sheep / Q000378:metabolism*; D014508:Urea / Q000097:blood; D014868:Water Deprivation; D014882:Water-Electrolyte Balance
chemical_list: D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile; D014508:Urea; D009584:Nitrogen
vernacular_title: Einfluss einer reduzierten Tränkwassergabe auf die Verdaulichkeit von Nährstoffen und einige Stoffwechselparameter beim Schaf. 2. Mitteilung. N-Bilanz, Wasserbilanz und einige physiologische Parameter.