WATER METABOLISM OF INDIGENOUS NIGERIAN SHEEP AND GOATS
WATER METABOLISM OF INDIGENOUS NIGERIAN SHEEP AND GOATS
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Date
1981
Authors
ADEMIJU, ADEOLU AGANGA
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Abstract
Nine feeding experiments and one metabolism study
were conducted to investigate the water requirements
and metabolism of some indigenous Nigerian sheep and
goats including the various factors that influence it
in the Sudan Savanna Zone. The studies conducted
examined the wrter balance, seasonal variations, breed
effect, diet effect, influence of feed and water
deprivation end also effect of physiologic states on
water requirements of these indigenous Nigerian sheep
and goats.
Growth performance of the indigenous penned sheep
breeds were much better than that of the goats for
example average daily gain (ADG) for Yankasa was 0.110kg
while that of Mcradi was 0.P5kg. Composition of the
whole bodies of sheep and goats showed that water
component ranged from 52.37 - 71.51% for sheep and
48.16 - 74.69% for goats. Tritiated water space
(TOH) as percentage of liveweight was (66.1%) for
Maradi goats, 73.6% for Yankasa, 80.5% for Ouda and
77.8% for Sahel. The biological half-life of tritium
was least in Yankasa (1T5.5h) and longest in Sahel
(I73.3h). Water turnover per day/animal was 2.52L,
2,63L, 0.86L, 1.0L for Ouda sheep, Yankasa sheep, Sahel
goat, and Mrradi goats breeds respectively.
The results showed a variation in water requirement
with age of sheep and goats but no conclusion could be
drawn for relationship between sex and water requirement.
Also results showed significant (P/O.01) effects of
seasonal variations on water requirements of Yankasa
sheep. Water deprivation depressed the growth
performance of Yankasa sheep and this was very prominent
in the hot dry season.
Water restriction negatively affected the growth,
lactation and pregnancy performance of Yankasa
ewes. Milk yield dropped drastrically when water was
not given daily to lactating Yankasa ewes. Pregnant
ewes watered 72hourly aborted or gave birth to weak lambs.
Feed restriction in sheep resulted in reduced water
intake and consequent weight loss. Results of the
metabolism study showed that Maradi goats produced drier
faeces than Yankasa sheep. At high environmental
temperatures, evaporative water loss plays an important
role in regulating body temperature. Evaporative water
loss of the Yankasa sheep was l62.4ml/kg0.73/day while
it was 120.4ml/kg0.73/day for Maradi goats. The
percentage faecal water ranged between 50-60% for Yankasa
and 40-45% for Maradi goats.
Investigations with sheep and goats showed a great
influence of diet on water intake. Sheep and goats on
low protein rations drank less water than those on
high protein rations.
Description
A
DISSERTATION
Submitted to the Postgraduate School, Ahmadu Bello
University, in partial fulfillment for the degree
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL SCIENCE
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA
Keywords
WATER METABOLISM,, INDIGENOUS,, NIGERIAN SHEEP,, GOATS