Thermoregulation, water balance and plasma constituents in Sudanese desert sheep: responses to diet and solar radiation

The responses of desert rams to diet composition (concentrate vs. lucerne hay) in unshaded and shaded environments were investigated. The rectal temperature was higher (p < 0•01) with the concentrate diet but only in the afternoon, whereas the respiration rate was higher (p < 0•01) with the concentrate diet in unshaded and shaded environments during both morning and afternoon. Dry matter intake (DMI) was higher (p < 0•05) with the concentrate diet, while the ratio of water intake to DMI was higher (p < 0•01) with lucerne hay. Water gain through preformed and metabolic avenues and water loss through faeces and evaporative avenues were higher (p < 0•01) with the concentrate diet. With both diets, water turnover rate was higher (p < 0•05) in the unshaded environment. Feeding lucerne hay increased plasma total protein (p < 0•01) and albumin (p < 0•05) in unshaded and shaded environments. Plasma urea was higher (p < 0•01) with the concentrate diet. Plasma glucose level and plasma osmalality were higher (p < 0.01) and level of free fatty acids was lower (p < 0•01) with the concentrate diet in both thermal environments. Plasma cholesterol level was higher (p < 0•05) with the concentrate diet in the shaded environment, but lower (p < 0•05) in the unshaded environment. With lucerne hay, plasma cholesterol level remained the same in both environments.