Quantitative prediction of drinking water intake of Murrah buffalo calves under saline water

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out with the aim of determining water requirement of Murrah buffalo calves under saline water. Twenty male buffalo calves were divided into five different treatment groups (n = 4 each) with average body weight of 219.94 kg. The animals in T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 groups were offered water having total dissolved solids (TDS) 0.55, 2.57, 4.46, 6.11 and 8.78 parts per thousand, respectively for 180 days. Data regarding environmental factors (maximum ambient temperature (Tmax), relative humidity (RH), rainfall and sunshine hour), dry matter intake (DMI) and drinking water intake (DWI) of individual animals were recorded daily. Results showed that Tmax, DMI, body weight (BW), rainfall and sunshine hours were positively related (P<0.001) while, relative humidity (RH) and total dissolved solids (TDS) of water were negatively correlated (P<0.001) to DWI. Applying a multiple linear regression analysis to all independent variables yielded DWI prediction equation as: (DWI) (L/day) = - 7.81- 0.45 × TDS (parts per thousand) + 0.41 × Tmax (°C) + 2.97 × DMI (kg/day) - 0.004 × BW (kg) with coefficient of multiple determination (R2 = 0.80), which can be useful to predict DWI of buffalo calves reared on saline water under tropical climatic conditions.