Adaptation of Desert Goats to Solar Heat Load and Water Restriction as Indicators of Climate Change Under Semi – Arid Condition

Abstract

This experiment was conducted at Elobeid ARC Farm, North Kordofan State, Sudan, and covered hot summer, rainy, winter, and warm summer seasons for 310 days. Thirty-six non-pregnant Desert goats were used in this experiment. One group was randomly allocated to a shaded condition and the other to an unshaded condition. Each group was randomly subdivided into two groups, one group receiving water every day and the other receiving water every other day. Does were mated by using two healthy Desert bucks. For both shaded and unshaded conditions, respiration rate (RR) and rectal temperature (RT) were significantly (P < 0.001) higher in unshaded than shaded conditions. The watering regime seemed to have no effect. Conception and kidding rates were lowest with the every other day watering regime under both shaded and unshaded conditions, while abortion rates were highest with the every other day watering regime under unshaded conditions. Does the mortality rate was highest in the shaded condition with the everyday watering regime and under the unshaded condition with the every other day watering regime? Kids’ mortality rate was 100% under the unshaded conditions with the every other day watering regime. Kids’ birth weights were higher under shaded conditions with every day watering regime or under unshaded conditions with every other day watering regime.