Tree shade improves the comfort of sheep during extreme summer

Abstract

Exposure to the sun during summer is a common practice in the pastoral system of sheep rearing in the semi-arid tropics. Exposure of direct sun in the hot summer may increase the heat load of sheep and may affect the sheep welfare negatively. Therefore, this study planned to evaluate the effect of tree shade on the behavioral adaptation of sun-exposed sheep during extreme summer in semi-arid region. For this purpose, 16 Malpura Rams were selected. The selected rams were segregated uniformly into two groups—G1 and G2. The rams of G1 were maintained under shaded area of the tree, whereas the rams of G2 were exposed to direct sun during summer in semi-arid tropic from 8 AM to 5 PM every day. The behavioral observations were recorded by the closed-circuit camera. Later on, the observation was taken in scanned sampling at 10-minute interval. The time taken for performing behaviors such as feed intake, rumination, standing, and lying was documented weekly once from morning (8 AM) to afternoon (5 PM) for 4 weeks. The data were analyzed with general linear model with repeated measures analysis. Protection of rams (G1) from the sun (P < 0.001) increased the total feed intake time. The time taken for performing panting, idle standing, panting in standing, and rumination in standing condition was (P < 0.001) lower in G1 compared with G2. The total standing time was also reduced (P < 0.05) in G1. The panting in a lying position was higher (P < 0.001) in G1 compared with G2. It is pertinent to conclude from the result that tree shade protects the sheep from direct sun exposure during summer and the sun-exposed sheep modify their behaviors to combat the extra heat load in the semi-arid region.