The Effect of Intermittent Watering on Performance, Blood Metabolites, and Nutrient Digestibility in Baluchi Lambs

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of intermittent watering on Baluchi lambs, regarding their performance, blood metabolites, and nutrient digestibility. Methods: Twenty male Baluchi lambs, 120 ± 5 days of age and 29 ±2.2 kg body weight were randomly assigned to four watering treatments: (T1) free access to water during the day, (T2) watered ad libitum twice a day, (T3) watered ad libitum once a day, (T4) watered ad libitum once every two days. The experiment lasted 42 days. Results: water restriction led to reduction in weight gain, DMI, water consumption, Water/DMI (p 0.05). aldosterone, cortisol, insulin hormone affected by treatments (p 0.05). while observed significant difference among T3 with other treatment in BUN (p 0.05), with regard to calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium. Digestibility of ADF, NDF, CP and OM was different among T3, T4 and other treatments (p 0.05). There was a significant difference between T4 and other groups and between T4 and T1 regarding fecal output and urine exertion respectively. Conclusion: This results implies that Baluchi lambs can tolerate water restriction up to once a day for at least 28 days without harmful effects.