Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Influence of different periods of exposure to hot environment on rumen function and diet digestibility in sheep

  • Original paper
  • Published:
International Journal of Biometeorology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Effects of different periods of exposure to hot environments on rumen function, diet digestibility and digesta passage rate were studied in four adult not-pregnant Sardinian ewes housed in a climatic chamber. The ewes were kept in individual metabolic cages. The trial lasted 83 days; 17 days were spent under thermal comfort conditions (TC) [temperature-humidity index (THI) = 65.0 ± 2.0], followed by 49 days under elevated THI (ETHI: THI = 82.0 ± 2.5) and 17 days under thermal comfort (TC; THI = 65.0 ± 1.0). Five digestibility and passage rate trials were carried out during the 83 days. Trials 1 and 5 were carried out under TC; trials 2, 3 and 4 were carried out under ETHI. Values of rectal temperatures (39.7 ± 0.3°C) and respiratory rate (118.4 ± 31.8 breaths/min) indicated that sheep under ETHI were heat-stressed. Heat stress caused an increase (P < 0.01) in water intake, and reductions (P < 0.05) in dry matter intake, rumen pH, rumen cellulolytic and amylolytic bacteria count, rumen osmolarity, organic matter, dry matter, neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre and non-structural carbohydrates digestibility coefficients, and a reduction of digesta passage rates. Under ETHI, diet digestibility and passage rate of digesta were reduced in a time-dependent fashion. Variation of diet digestibility under ETHI was not related to passage rate of digesta and feed intake. Reduction of cellulolytic and amylolytic bacteria and the adaptive response to hot environment seem to be related to alteration of digestibility observed in ewes chronically exposed to hot environment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • AOAC (1995) Association of Official Analytical Chemists. Official methods of analysis, 16th edn. AOAC, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Attebery JT, Johnson HD (1969) Effects of environmental temperature, controlled feeding and fasting on rumen motility. J Anim Sci 29:734–737

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Beede DK, Collier RJ (1986) Potential nutritional strategies for intensively managed cattle during thermal stress. J Anim Sci 62:543–554

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Beede DK, Shearer JK (1991) Nutritional management of dairy cattle during hot weather. Agri-Practice 12:5–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Bernabucci U, Bani P, Ronchi B, Lacetera N, Nardone A (1999) Influence of short- and long-term exposure to hot environment on rumen passage rate and diet digestibility by Friesian heifers. J Dairy Sci 82:967–973

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bernabucci U, Basiricò L, Lacetera N, Morera P, Ronchi B, Accorsi PA, Seren E, Nardone A (2006) Photoperiod affects gene expression of leptin and leptin receptors in adipose tissue from lactating dairy cows. J Dairy Sci 89:4678–4686

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Coppock CE, West JW (1986) Nutritional adjustments to reduce heat stress in lactating dairy cows. In: Proceedings of the Georgia Nutrition Conference for the Feed Industry. Atlanta, GA, pp 19–26

  • Christopherson RJ (1985) The thermal environment and the ruminant digestive system. In: Yousef MK (ed) Stress physiology in livestock, vol I. CRC, Boca Raton, FL, pp 163–180

    Google Scholar 

  • Christopherson RJ, Kennedy PM (1983) Effect of the thermal environment on digestion in ruminants. Can J Anim Sci 63:477–496

    Google Scholar 

  • Dhanoa MS, Siddons RC, France J, Gale DL (1985) A multicompartmental model to describe marker excretion patterns in ruminant faeces. Br J Nutr 53:663–671. doi:10.1079/BJN19850076

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dehority BA, Tirabasso PA, Grifo AP (1989) Most probable-number procedures for enumerating ruminal bacteria, including simultaneous estimation of total and cellulolytic numbers in one medium. Appl Environ Microbiol 55:2789–2792

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Faichney GJ, Barry TN (1986) Effects of mild heat exposure and suppretion of prolactin secretion on gastrointestinal-tract function and temperature regulation in sheep. Aust J Biol Sci 39:85–97

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fuquay JW (1981) Heat stress as it affects animal production. J Anim Sci 52:164–174

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jarrige R (ed) (1988) Alimentation des bovins, ovins et caprins. INRA, Paris, France

  • Johnson HD (1980) Environmental management of cattle to minimize the stress of climate change. Int J Biometeorol 24(Suppl. 7):65–78. doi:10.1007/BF02245543

    Google Scholar 

  • Kadzere CT, Murphy MR, Silanikove N, Maltz E (2002) Heat stress in lactating dairy cows: a review. Livest Prod Sci 77:59–91. doi:10.1016/S0301-6226(01)00330-X

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Licitra G, Hernadez TM, Van Soest PJ (1996) Standardization of procedures for nitrogen fractionation of ruminant feeds. Anim Feed Sci Technol 57:347–358. doi:10.1016/0377-8401(95)00837-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lu CD (1989) Effects of heat stress on goat production. Small Rumin Res 2:151–162. doi:10.1016/0921-4488(89)90040-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mathers JC, Baber RP, Archibald RF (1989) Intake, digestion and gastro-intestinal mean retention time in Asiatic buffaloes and Ayrshire cattle given two contrasting diets and housed at 20° and 33°C. J Agric Sci Camb 113:211–222

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McDonald P, Edwards RA, Greenhalgh JFD (1981) Animal nutrition, 3rd edn. Longman, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • McDowell RE, Moody EG, Van Soest PJ, Lehmann RP (1969) Effect of heat stress on energy and water utilization of lactating cows. J Dairy Sci 52:188–194

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McGuire MA, Beede DK, DeLorenzo MA, Wilcox CJ, Huntington GB, Reynolds CK, Collier RJ (1989) Effects of thermal stress and level of feed intake on portal plasma flow and net fluxes of metabolites in lactating Holstein cows. J Anim Sci 67:1050–1060

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Miaron JOO, Christopherson RJ (1992) Effect of prolonged thermal exposure on heat production, reticular motility, rumen-fluid and particulate passage-rate constants, and apparent digestibility in steers. Can J Anim Sci 72:809–819

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mulligan FJ, Caffrey PJ, Rath M, Callagan JJ, O’Mara FP (2001) The relationship between feeding level, rumen particulate and fluid turnover rate and the digestibility of soy hulls in cattle and sheep (including a comparison of Cr-mordanted soya hulls and Cr2O3 as particulate markers in cattle). Livest Prod Sci 70:191–202. doi:10.1016/S0301-6226(01)00179-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nardone A, Lacetera N, Ronchi B, Bernabucci U (1993) Feed intake and weight gain in female calves exposed to thermal stress. In: Proceedings of the 10th Congresso Nazionale Associazione Scientifica Produzioni Animali, 31 May–3 June 1993, Bologna, Italy, pp 155–160

  • National Research Council (1981) Effects of environment on nutrient requirements of domestic animals. National Academies Press, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Robertshaw D (1981) The environmental physiology of animal production. In: Clark JA (ed) Environmental aspects of Housing for animal production. Butterworths, London, UK, pp 3–17

  • Ronchi B, Bernabucci U, Lacetera N, Verini Supplizi A, Nardone A (1999) Distinct and common effects of heat stress and restricted feeding on metabolic status in Holstein heifers. Zoot Nutr Anim 25:71–80

    Google Scholar 

  • Ronchi B, Stradaioli G, Verini Supplizi A, Bernabucci U, Lacetera N, Accorsi PA, Nardone A, Seren E (2001) Influence of heat stress and feed restriction on plasma progesterone, estradiol-17β, LH, FSH, prolactin and cortisol in Holstein heifers. Livest Prod Sci 68:231–241. doi:10.1016/S0301-6226(00)00232-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • SAS (2008) User’s guide: statistics, version 9.1. SAS Inst., Cary, NC

  • Silanikove N (1985) Effect of dehydration on feed intake and dry matter digestibility in desert (black Bedouin) and non-desert (Swiss Saanen) goats fed on lucerne hay. Comp Biochem Physiol 80A:449–452

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Silanikove N (1992) Effect of water scarcity and hot environment on appetite and digestion in ruminants: a review. Livest Prod Sci 30:175–194

    Google Scholar 

  • Uden P, Colucci PE, Van Soest PJ (1980) Investigation of chromium, cerium and cobalt as markers in digesta. Rate of passage studies. J Sci Food Agric 31:625–632

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Van Soest PJ, Robertson JB, Lewis BA (1991) Methods for dietary fiber, neutral detergent fiber, and nonstarch polysaccharides in relation to animal nutrition. J Dairy Sci 74:3583–3597

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Warren WP, Martz FA, Asay KH, Hilderbrand ES, Payne CG, Vogt JR (1974) Digestibility and rate of passage by steers fed tall fescue alfalfa and orchard grass in 18°C and 32°C ambient temperature. J Anim Sci 39:93–96

    Google Scholar 

  • Weniger JH, Stein M (1992) Einfluss von Ungebungstemperatur und Luftfeuchte auf die Nahrstoffverdaulichkeit beim Schaf. 1. Problemstellung, Durchfuhrung der Untersuchungen, Verdaulichkeit. Zuchtungskunde 64:148–155

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams CH, David DJ, Iismaa O (1962) The determination of chromic oxide in feces samples by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. J Agric Sci 59:381–385

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Produzioni Animali, Università della Tuscia-Viterbo, via De Lellis, s.n.c., 01100, Viterbo, Italy

    U. Bernabucci, N. Lacetera, P. P. Danieli, A. Nardone & B. Ronchi

  2. Istituto di Zootecnica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore-Piacenza, via Emilia Parmense, 84, Piacenza, Italy

    P. Bani

Authors
  1. U. Bernabucci
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. N. Lacetera
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. P. P. Danieli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. P. Bani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. A. Nardone
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. B. Ronchi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to U. Bernabucci.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bernabucci, U., Lacetera, N., Danieli, P.P. et al. Influence of different periods of exposure to hot environment on rumen function and diet digestibility in sheep. Int J Biometeorol 53, 387–395 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-009-0223-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-009-0223-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation