Impact of shelter in hot Mediterranean climate on feed intake, feed utilization and body fluid distribution in sheep.
Sheep fully exposed to Mediterranean summer conditions had a higher respiration rate and a higher body temperature than sheep with access to shade. Nevertheless, feed intake and water intake of non-sheltered animals was not different from that of sheltered ones and both maintained their body weight on medium quality hay. Apparent digestibility of organic matter was higher in the non-sheltered animals than in the sheltered ones. The mean retention time of undigested feed in the rumen and in the entire digestive tract was higher in the non-sheltered animals than in the sheltered ones. Water turnover rate was only slightly higher in the non-sheltered animals than in the sheltered ones. However, plasma volume and extracellular volume were significantly higher in non-sheltered than in sheltered animals. The volume of water in the alimentary tract was not different between the two groups.
MIGAL-Galilee Technological Centre, Kiryat Shmona, Israel.
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Silanikove
D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D001810:Blood Volume; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000032:analysis*; D001831:Body Temperature; D002857:Chromium; D004435:Eating; D005110:Extracellular Space / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006799:Housing, Animal; D012119:Respiration; D012756:Sheep; D013472:Sunlight
D002857:Chromium