Assessment of heat tolerance and production performance of Aardi, Damascus, and their crossbred goats

Abstract

The question of whether the adaptability and production performance in goats may be enhanced using a crossbreeding program between bucks of a native and heat-tolerant breed and does of an exotic and dual-purpose breed was approached and examined herein by comparing purebred Aardi and Damascus goats and their crossbred lines (i.e., (1)/2 Aardi (1)/2 Damascus (½A½D) and (1)/4 Aardi (3)/4 Damascus (¼A¾D)) reared in a region characterized by dry and hot bioclimatic conditions. Twenty-four male 6-month-old kids randomly segregated into four groups (six replicates/group) were used for the experiment. Climatic, thermo-physiological, biophysiological, metabolic, blood hematological, and biochemical measurements were all determined. The obtained results indicated that such a program was proven to be successful. This conclusion was demonstrated by the findings that crossbred goats (i.e., (1)/2A(1)/2D and (1)/4A(3)/4D) under such bioclimatic conditions were able to show (P < 0.05) higher heat tolerance capabilities compared to purebred Damascus goats as well as manifested (P < 0.05) higher production performance compared to the purebred Aardi goats. Accordingly, these evidences could emphasize that the crossbreeding may enable these animals to display a simultaneous improvement of both traits by the possible benefits that could arise from heterosis and breed complementarity. Researches dealing with this aspect may very well improve our understanding of goat's production and welfare under harsh environmental conditions. Future studies should include an economic analysis of traits that have the potential to impact the overall profitability to a vertically coordinated system.

Diminishing Water-Intake may have Pragmatic Aspects in Lambs Fed on Pelleted Complete Diet and Reared under Thermo-Neutral Condition

“…Reducing the level of water intake under such conditions had no subsequent impacts on the thermal status of lambs fed on PCD based on the un-altered findings of their body temperatures and thermal gradients (Table 1, Figure 2). Exposure to hot weather conditions could trigger an increase in T r , T sk , heart rate, as well as other thermo-physiological indices (Abdoun et al, 2012;Al-Haidary et al, 2012;Samara et al, 2016), however, this was not the case herein since lambs were reared under thermo-neutral condition. In fact, Alamer (2010) observed no change in T r of waterdeprived Awassi and Najdi sheep during the winter season.…”

Impact of Climate Change on Small Ruminants Production: A Review

“…Simple shelter with straw or hay or aluminum sheets as the rooftop can be very effective for even semi-intensive rearing practices. Provision of shade to the sheep and goats was found to improve body weight gain, milk production, and reproductive performance [77]. Installation of fans or other cooling systems in the sheds can minimize heat stress [77].…”

“…Provision of shade to the sheep and goats was found to improve body weight gain, milk production, and reproductive performance [77]. Installation of fans or other cooling systems in the sheds can minimize heat stress [77]. Because the water requirements of sheep and goats increase under heat stress conditions, access to adequate cool freshwater, therefore, is one of the best practices to reduce heat stress [74,77].…”

“…Installation of fans or other cooling systems in the sheds can minimize heat stress [77]. Because the water requirements of sheep and goats increase under heat stress conditions, access to adequate cool freshwater, therefore, is one of the best practices to reduce heat stress [74,77]. Experimenting with German Fawn × Hair crossbred dairy goat genotypes, [78] reported consumption of 18% more feed, 7% more water intake and 21% more milk yield in experimental group which was sprayed and ventilated for 1 h a day to reduce the heat stress over the control group.…”

Effect of summer environment on growing lambs under hot semi-arid tropical region

“…This situation will lead to more uncertainty for food, occupational options for the rural population, farm yield and grazing system ("AR5 Climate Change 2014," n.d.; Ndiritu, 2020). Earlier studies suggested that the small ruminants can tolerate and thrive in the harsh environment of the arid and semi-arid zone (Samara et al, 2016). Sheep rearing is a common occupation for the people residing in the arid and semi-semi-arid region and it serves as vital economic activity (Gowane et al, 2020) for the small and marginal farmers.…”