Effect of Feeding Frequency and Housing System on Physiological Responses and Performance of Male Lambs under Upper Egypt Hot Conditions

A total of 40 Farafra ram-lambs were used to investigate the effect of feeding frequency under different housing systems on physiological responses and growth performance under Upper Egypt hot conditions. Lambs were randomly allocated to 4 groups (10 lambs each); group (I) fed twice daily and housed in a semi-open pen, group (II) fed twice daily and housed in double-roofed pens, group (III) fed three times daily and kept in a semi-open pen and group (IV) fed three times daily and kept in a double-roofed pen. During the experimental period, the mean THI at pm was significantly higher in semi-open type than double-roofed one (90.2 ± 0.27 vs. 83.9 ± 0.29). At 12.00:14.00 h. pm, the lowest respiration rate was recorded in a group (IV) "56.0 ± 2.44" and the highest one was recorded in a group (I) "70.5 ± 3.3" and rectal and skin temperatures almost have taken similar trend. The results revealed that blood metabolites did not significantly (P > 0.05) affected by either housing type or feeding frequency. The results showed that group (III) had the highest final body weight (37.2 ± 0.97 kg) and total body weight gain (21.7 ± 0.68 kg) and average daily gain (148.2 ± 6.50 g/day) followed by group (I) then group (IV) and group (II). In conclusion, the feeding frequency of 3 times daily was more beneficial than feeding twice, and the physiological responses of lambs housed under double-roofed closed type were better compared to semi-open type.