Impact of Watering Restriction on feed of Goats

Abstract

The effect of water restriction on feed of a group of Nubian goats was studied. Fifteen Nubian goats similar in age and parity were randomly divided into three groups of five goats each. The animals were watered every other day, once every day and adlibtum. They fed with Lucerne hay and concentrate which was composed ( sorghum, wheat bran, molasses and salt). The experiment was conducted in autumn season There was no significant difference between goats watered every other day and goats watered adlibtum while the goats watered once every day showed a significant decrease in feed intake. Water consumption showed highly significant differences between the three groups. The goats watered every other day recorded a decrease in the consumption compared with the other two groups. The apparent digestibility coefficients for dry matter and crude protein did not significantly differ between the goats watered every other day and the goats watered once every day . However, the group which was watered adlibtum was reported a decrease in the dry matter and crude protein digestibility. The total nitrogen retained was significantly higher in goats watered every other day than the goats watered once every day while goats watered adlibtum had reported the lowest value of nitrogen retained in animal body. Animals body weight showed significant decrease in the goats watered every other day and goats watered once every day with an increase in the goats watered adlibtum during the six weeks of the experiment.