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Effect of long term water deprivation on body weight and water intake of breeding ewes under semi-arid conditions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

T. More  and
K. L. Sahni
K. L. Sahni
Affiliation:
Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute, Avikanagar 304501, India
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Summary

Thirty-nine adult ewes of identical body size and age were randomly taken from the Chokla breed. They were divided into four groups which were allowed water once in 24, 48, 72 and 96 h. Seven ewes from each of the first, third and fourth groups were mated for the first time in the spring and for a second time in winter, so that they lambed in the monsoon and summer season respectively. All the ewes were maintained on uncultivated pasture. Watering once in 72 and 96 h caused body weight loss up to 26%, compared with those watered daily. The ewes which failed to maintain pregnancy lost more than 30% of their body weights due to watering only once in 96 h and there were about 43 and 100% lambing in the first and second breeding cycle of the same ewes. The remaining groups displayed 100% lambing. The water-intake increased significantly in the third month of pregnancy in the group allowed water daily and water consumption was found to be about 13% of body weight, whereas the values for those watered once in 72 and 96 h were 9 and 8% respectively. The water-deprived animals were able to drink up to 32 % of their body weights within 2–3 min. It is concluded that breeding ewes could be watered once in 72 h without any loss of lambing during summer.

Type
Short Note
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 90 , Issue 2 , April 1978 , pp. 435 - 439
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1978

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