Effect of watering frequencies and rehydration on body weight, feed and nutrient intake of indigenous sheep

Abstract

The present experiment was conducted with the objective to study the effect of watering frequencies and
rehydration on body weight, feed and nutrient intake of indigenous sheep under intensive production system
during hot humid season. Eighteen adult dry non pregnant farm born Patanwadi and Marwari female (25-35
kg) sheep were divided randomly on body weight basis in three treatment groups viz., T1: Control (watering
thrice in a day), T2: (12 hrs. watering interval - watering twice in a day), T3: (24 hrs. watering interval -
watering once in a day).The body weight (kg), DMI (g/d and g/kg W0.75), DCPI (kg/100 kg BW and g/kg
W0.75) and TDNI (g/d) of experimental animals were significantly (P < 0.05) influenced by different watering
frequencies, whereas in rehydration phase body weight, feed and nutrient intake was non-significant. The
results indicated that the adult sheep should be given ad libitum water at least twice a day at the interval
of 12 hrs. in hot humid season to sustain body weight, DMI (g/d and g/kg W0.75) and TDNI (g/d).