Effect of watering frequencies and rehydration on water intake and drinking behaviour of indigenous sheep

Abstract

The present experiment was conducted with the objective to study the effect of watering frequencies and
rehydration on water intake and drinking behaviour pattern 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 water intake (ml/d, ml/100 kg BW, ml/kg W0.75 and ml/kg DMI) and
total water intake time (sec.) of experimental animals were significantly (P < 0.05) influenced by different
watering frequencies. Moreover, rehydration influenced significantly (P < 0.05) the water intake (ml/d, ml/100
kg BW, ml/kg W0.75 and ml/kg DMI) and drinking behaviour in terms of total water intake time (sec.) and
water intake (ml/sec.) of sheep. The results indicated that the adult sheep should be given ad libitum water
at least thrice a day to maximize water intake (ml/d, ml/100 kg BW and ml/kg W0.75) in hot humid season.