Thermal responses and respiratory activities of sheep under heat stress as affected by some dietary salts
Abstract: Thirty five ewes and fifteen Farafra mature sheep rams were used in this investigation. The experimental animals (rams and ewes) were divided -into five equal groups (7 ewes + 3 rams per each) according to their age and initial body weight as control, 1% sodium bicarbonate (G1), 1% potassium carbonate (G2), 0.5% sodium bicarbonate + 0.5% potassium carbonate (G3) and finally 1 % sodium bicarbonate+ 1% potassium carbonate (G4). The concentrate mixture was machinermixed with the salt additives. Ambient temperature and relative humidity were recorded simultaneously in the morning and the afternoon during the experimental period (June to August). Thermal responses (rectal temperature, skin temperature and ear temperature) in both rams and ewes measured at morning and at afternoon during experimental period. Respiratory activates and gas exchanges were determined three times (at 15/June, 15/July and 15/August) in both rams and ewes throughout experimental period. The results indicated that treated rams and ewes decreased significantly (P<0.01) their rectal temperature (RT), skin temperature (ST) at morning (6-8 a.m) and at afternoon (12-2 p.m). As well as, they decreased significantly (P<0.01) respiration rate (RR). Dietary salts resulted insignificantly decreases in ear temperature (ET) of ewes at morning and significantly decreases (P<0.05) ET in rams. In thew afternoon ET decreased significantly (P<0.05) in both treated rams and ewes. Gas volume (GV), tidal volume (TV) and volume of oxygen consumption (VO2) increased significantly (P<0.05) by dietary salts and decreased insignificantly volume of carbon dioxide production (VCO2) in both rams and ewes. Also, dietary salts decreased significantly (P<0.01), respiratory quotient (RQ) in both rams and ewes. From the present results it can be concluded that dietary salts alleviated significantly body temperature by decreasing RT, ST and affected beneficially gas exchange parameters.
Keywords: Thermal responses, respiratory activities, dietary Salts, heat stress, sheep
Publication year 2011
Pages 27-39
Availability location معهد بحوث الانتاج الحيوانى-شارع نادى الصيد- الدقى- الجيزة
Availability number
Organization Name
serial title Egyptian Journal Animal Production
ISSN 0302-4520
Author(s) from ARC
External authors (outside ARC)
    عبد المعطى خيرى جامعة المنيا
    محمد بعد الفتاح البارودى جامعة المنيا
Agris Categories Animal physiology - Nutrition
AGROVOC
TERMS		 Ewes. Heat stress. Humidity. Rams. Sheep. Temperature.
Proposed Agrovoc dietary Salt;respiratory activities;Thermal responses;
Publication Type Journal
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