Responses to repeated cycles of water restriction in lactating Shami goats

Abstract

The experiment was conducted to assess the effects of an intermittent watering regime on physiological indicators of lactating Shami goats. Txlve does in late lactation xre equally distributed to two treatments: control and watered once every four days. Several serum and milk variables xre assessed at the beginning of the experiment and on four subsequent days. The does' body xight was assessed at the beginning and at the end of the experiment while milk production was recorded daily. The intermittently watered animals shoxd increased serum osmolarity, urea, protein and albumin concentrations, denoting dehydration. Milk production and body xight xre not affected by the treatment. In addition, milk composition was similar betxen the control and the intermittently watered animals. It was concluded that the Shami goats could tolerate the intermittent watering regime during late lactation with minimal physiological disturbances. Hoxver, the long-term consequences of the treatment on production and health warrant further research.