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The effect of dehydration on Sudanese desert sheep and goats

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

H. M. El-Hadi
H. M. El-Hadi
Affiliation:
Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan
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Summary

Changes in body weight and body temperature were observed in Sudanese desert sheep and goats, which had been subjected to the summer sun (20 °C min. to 42 °C max.), given water normally and then deprived of water for 3 days. Tritiated water was also used to measure total body water and water turnover in these animals together with measurements of plasma and extracellular space, intracellular fluid volume and blood osmolality. The body weight and the size of the fluid compartments decreased in the two species at varying degrees associated with haemoconcentration. The extent of some changes was more marked in sheep than in goats, suggesting better adaptation of the former species to desert life.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 106 , Issue 1 , February 1986 , pp. 17 - 20
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1986

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References

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