Effects of water restriction on thermoregulation mechanism and behaviour?s of goats

The present study was carried out to investigate the effects of water restriction on performance, thermoregulation mechanism and behaviour?s of goats. 20 Balcalı goats in Agricultural Faculty Research Farm, University of Cukurova, Adana, Turkey were used for the experiment. 20 female goats were selected in June and after a one week trial the experiment was started in July and held for 30 days. All goats were kept in invidual cages during the experiment. Selected 5 goats were kept as control group. The rest 15 goats were kept as trial. Control group were continued as normal feeding and management conditions while trial groups were given restricted water management. Thus, daily given water amount were 2 lt./day for group 1, 3 lt./day for group 2 and 4 lt./day for group 3. Daily feed consumption, physiological adaptation, biochemical blood parameters and feed and water consumption behaviours were detected and recorded. Even, weights were also recorded for find out the effects of restricted watering regime on goats . The results showed that water restriction caused live weight loss, lower feed consumption, higher rectal and skin temparatures, lower pulse and respiratory rate, higher glucose, cholesterol, urea, creatinine, sodium and vazopressin and lower potassium levels. Anhydrous animals were rested and standing much more but showed less rumination and walking behaviour.