The effect of level of energy intake on rectal temperature and maintenance requirements of West African dwarf goats.

Abstract

In two separate experiments, the digestible organic matter intake (DOMI) of adult male West African Dwarf goats was measured. Thirteen animals had unrestricted access to feed and 13 others a restricted diet of pelleted lucerne, ranging from 50% up to 140% of maintenance requirements. Four animals received ad libitum grass hay and four others had ad libitum grass straw. Every morning rectal temperature (RT) was measured before feeding. Plotted against DOMI, rectal temperature yielded the following equation as estimated for all animals (s.e.m. in brackets): RT=37.56 (+/- 0.11)+ 0.025( +/- 0.003)*DOMI, n=34, r.s.d.=0.21, R2=0.67. RT was not significantly (P>0.2) influenced by experiment, diet type or system of feeding, but was by the energy intake. The lower RT in animals with low DOMI may be related to a decrease in maintenance requirements of these animals.