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Ethology, physiological, and ingestive responses of sheep subjected to different temperatures and salinity levels of water

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Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the physiological responses, ethology, and ingestive behavior of female Morada Nova sheep kept in a thermoneutral environment, after thermal stress and after consuming water with different levels of salinity. Thirty-six Morada Nova females with a mean age of 10.0 ± 2.0 months and a mean weight of 25.0 ± 3.0 kg were evaluated and distributed in a climatic chamber. The experimental design was completely randomized, with a factorial scheme of 2 (air temperature (AT)) × 3 (salinity levels (SLs)) and six replications. The sheep’s physiological responses, ethology (day/night), and ingestive behavior were evaluated while they were subjected to ATs of 26.0 and 32.0 °C and SLs of 3.0, 6.0, and 9.0 dS/m. With elevation in AT, the animals experienced increased (P < 0.05) rectal temperatures (RTs), respiratory rates (RFs), and surface temperatures (STs) and exhibited reduced (P < 0.05) heart rates (HRs). When consuming water with an SL of 9.0 dS/m, a HR reduction (P < 0.05) was observed. Sleep behavior increased (P < 0.05) with the increase in SL during the day. Sleeping and drinking behaviors increased (P < 0.05), and the time of inactivity was reduced (P < 0.05) during the nocturnal period with increased SLs. With increased SLs, sheep consumed more water (P < 0.05) and reduced (P < 0.05) the number of regurgitated ruminal boluses per day (NRBD). Under the conditions of thermal stress (32.0 °C), sheep need to make physiological adjustments to maintain homeothermy. Water consumption of SLs up to 9.0 dS/m causes a higher state of dormancy in female Morada Nova sheep.

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Funding

This study is supported by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) through scholarship grant and research fund process no. 482955/2012-03.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brazil

    Patrício Gomes Leite, Jordânio Inácio Marques, Dermeval Araújo Furtado, José Pinheiro Lopes Neto, Bonifácio Benício de Souza & José Wallace Barbosa do Nascimento

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  1. Patrício Gomes Leite
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  2. Jordânio Inácio Marques
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  3. Dermeval Araújo Furtado
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  4. José Pinheiro Lopes Neto
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  5. Bonifácio Benício de Souza
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  6. José Wallace Barbosa do Nascimento
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Correspondence to Jordânio Inácio Marques.

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The research was approved by the Research Ethics Committee (CEP) of the Federal University of Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brazil, under Protocol CEP 284-2015.

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Leite, P.G., Marques, J.I., Furtado, D.A. et al. Ethology, physiological, and ingestive responses of sheep subjected to different temperatures and salinity levels of water. Int J Biometeorol 63, 1091–1098 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-019-01724-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-019-01724-y

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