Effect of water deprivation on dry matter intake, nutrient utilization and metabolic water production in goats under semi-arid zone of India

Abstract

Effect of water deprivation on dry matter (DM) intake, nutrient digestibility, nitrogen retention and metabolic water production was studied in bucks of Sirohi, Marwari and Kutchi breeds during August–September. Eighteen adult bucks (4–4.5 years of age), six each of the above-mentioned breeds were divided into three treatment groups in such a way that each group had two bucks of each breed. Water was made available ad libitum to group I, once daily at 15 h to group II and once after 48 h (alternate day) at 15 h to group III. Animals were offered 400 g per buck per day of a pelleted concentrate mixture in the morning and it was consumed by them within 15–20 minutes. Animals were then offered ad libitum pegion pea ( Cajanus cajan) straw. The green grass ( Cenchrus ciliaris) 1 kg per buck per day was provided after watering at 15.30 h. Refusals were recorded next morning at 8.30 h daily. The experiment continued for a period of 60 days following an adjustment period of one month. Dry matter intake (g kg W −0.75 per day) was the lowest in group II (77.53) and the highest in group I (82.91). Total water intake (per kilogram DM intake) ranged from 2.33 l per buck per day in group III to 2.77 l per buck per day in group I. Water deprivation did not effect ( P>0.05) DM intake, nutrient digestibility, nitrogen retention and metabolic water production. The study showed that water deprivation up to 48 h does not adversely affect feed intake and nutrient digestibility in non-producing adult goats.