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PRINT: ISSN 2221-1896
ONLINE : ISSN 2223-0343
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Effect of restricted feeding on physiological performance in male Nubian
goat kids
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Esraa M. H. Elsheikh1, Osama H. A. Ali2
and Khalid A. Abdoun3* |
1Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary
Medicine, University of Bahry, Sudan; 2Department of
Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Khartoum,
Sudan; 3Department of Animal Production, College of Food and
Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
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Abstract |
This study was designed
to investigate the effects of fasting for 4 days, directly after
exposing the animals to two levels (30 and 60%) of feed restriction for
6 weeks, on the physiological performance of Nubian goats. Twelve male
Nubian goat kids (2-3 months of age) were divided into three equal
groups according to the level of feed restriction; A (30% feed
restriction), B (60% feed restriction) and C (control, ad libitum
feed consumption) for 6 weeks. Then, the three groups were exposed to
fasting (100% feed restriction) for 4 days, followed by re-feeding for 1
week. During the fasting phase, previous exposure of the animals to the
two levels of feed restriction did not exert any significant difference
in water intake, body weight and body temperature compared to the
feeding ad libitum. Ad libitum feed consumption and 30%
feed-restricted groups showed significant (P<0.05) increase in
haematocrit (PCV) during the fasting phase compared to 60%
feed-restricted group. The previous feed restriction significantly
(P<0.05) decreased hemoglobin (Hb) concentration during the re-feeding
phase compared to the fasting phase. The feed-restricted groups revealed
a slight increase in erythrocytes count during the fasting phase. These
results indicate that feed restriction prior to starvation periods can
enhance the ability of Nubian goats to tolerate the adverse effects of
starvation.
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Keywords:
Goat; feed restriction;
fasting; physiological performance; feed deprivation |
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To cite this article:
Elsheikh EMH, OHA Ali and
KA Abdoun,
2014.
Effect of restricted feeding on physiological
performance in male Nubian goat.
Res.
Opin.
Anim. Vet. Sci., 4(9): 479-483. |
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