WATER BALANCE AND SOME BLOOD PARAMETERS IN WATER-RESTRICTED GOATS DURING HOT-DRY SEASON

Abstract

Six West African Dwarf (WAD) and 6 Red Sokoto (RS) dry female goats were subjected to volumetric water restriction (WR). The experiment was arranged in a modified cross-over design with 3 treatment periods (TPs) of 1 week each and 2-week wash-out (WO) period. The goats were subjected to 3 graded levels of WR daily: ad libitum (0 %), 33 % and 67 %. Blood samples on day 1 and day 7 of each TP were collected. Daily urine and faeces were collected for 3 days each TP. Combining data for the two breeds, WR had no significant (P>0.05) effect on initial value, final value or differences in the values of the packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cells (RBC), haemoglobin (Hb) concentration, plasma urea, plasma osmolality, blood glucose, total serum protein, albumin and globulin. No significant (P>0.05) effect of water restriction on urine volume, fresh faeces, faecal DM and volume of water in faeces was recorded. However, based on metabolic weight, water loss in faeces was significantly (P<0.05) higher in 0 % WR grade level than in 33 % and 67 % WR grade level groups. Similarly, water intake-urine ratio was higher in 0 % and 33 % than in 67 % group. Taking each breed separately, there was significant (P<0.05) effect of WR on faecal output and faecal water content (FWC). RS goats voided more faeces (DM) than WAD goats at 0 % but not at 33 % and 67 % restriction levels. FWC per metabolic weight was higher in RS than in WAD goats at all WR levels. In RS goats, there was a gradual decrease in FWC with increase in water restriction level, whilst there was no significant difference in WAD goats. WR did not affect the blood parameters, however WAD goats proved superior to RS in regulating amount of water losses in faeces, thereby showing a higher capacity to cope with water shortage.