Resting and field metabolic rates of Awassi sheep and Baladi goats raised by Negev bedouin
| Autor: | A. Allan Degen, Michael Kam, Arieh Brosh, Shaher El-Meccawi |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2020 |
| Předmět: |
geography
geography.geographical_feature_category 0402 animal and dairy science 04 agricultural and veterinary sciences Vegetation biomass Biology Herbaceous plant 040201 dairy & animal science Pasture Awassi Animal science Field metabolic rate Basal metabolic rate 040103 agronomy & agriculture Genetics 0401 agriculture forestry and fisheries Animal Science and Zoology O2 consumption Agronomy and Crop Science |
| Zdroj: | The Journal of Agricultural Science. 158:431-437 |
| ISSN: | 1469-5146 0021-8596 |
| Popis: | Sheep are grazers and goats are intermediate feeders. By employing O2 consumption and heart rate measurements, resting metabolic rate (RMR) and field metabolic rate (FMR) were determined in four male fat-tailed Awassi sheep (44.0 ± 3.94) and four male Baladi goats (35.5 ± 5.42 kg) that were co-grazing natural pasture in the Negev Desert. There were 67.7 ± 3.75 g DM/m2 of herbaceous vegetation biomass, which was rapidly becoming senescent and more fibrous. We hypothesized that FMR of these desert-adapted ruminants would be relatively low when compared to other sheep and goat breeds, as animals in arid areas tend to have low metabolic rates. Both sheep (n = 6) and goats (n = 6) foraged 71% of the allotted 11 h free-pasture period; however, sheep grazed more than goats (P < 0.001); whereas goats browsed more than sheep (P < 0.001). RMR was higher (P = 0.007) in sheep than in goats (529 ± 23.5 v. 474 ± 25.4 kJ/kg0.75 BW/d), but FMR did not differ between species (618 ± 55.7 v. 613 ± 115.2 kJ/kg0.75 BW/d). In addition, the cost of activities, as a proportion of FMR, did not differ between sheep and goats; FMR increased by 89 kJ/kg0.75 BW/d or 17% in sheep and by 138 kJ/kg0.75 BW/d or 29% in goats. In comparing FMRs of sheep and goats in this study with these species in other studies, differences were inconsistent and, therefore, our hypothesis was not supported. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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