Effect of restricted water intake during summer on the digestibility of cell-wall constituents, nitrogen retention and water excretion in Marwari sheep

Abstract

SummaryStudies were made on the effect of 50% reduction in daily water intake during summer on food intake, digestibility coefficients of the cell-wall constituents (CWC), nitrogen retention and water excretion in urine and faeces in the Marwari breed of sheep of the Rajasthan desert, India. The water-restricted animals consumed 54 and 42% less dry matter and digestible energy respectively than normally-watered animals. The digestibility coefficients of different CWC were apparently, though not significantly, higher in water-restricted animals. Throughout the study period, animals of both the groups, particularly the water-restricted group, remained in negative nitrogen balance. Moisture loss through the faeces was about 22% less in the water-restricted group than in the control animals. The water-restricted animals lost 21·1% of body weight in 23 days and these animals, when allowed water ad libitum, were able to recover 71·5 % of the lost body weight within 3 days.