Effect of water restriction on lactation performance of Aardi goats under heat stress conditions

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of water restriction on lactation performance in Aardi goats. The experiment divided into 3 periods each of 6 days; control, water restriction and rehydration. Nine lactating Aardi goats in early lactation were divided into two groups. One group (n = 5) received 50% and the other group (n = 4) received 25% restriction of drinking water relative to their consumed water during control period. Both groups exhibited a fall in dry matter intake with almost a similar rate. Live weight loss during water restriction was similar in both groups (8 and 6% in 50 and 25% water restriction, respectively). Milk production was also reduced by 20 and 18% with 50 and 25% water restriction, respectively. Milk fat percentage was lower in goats that received 25% restriction while it was maintained unchanged in the 50% restriction group. Total solids of milk tended to decrease in goats with 25% water restriction without any change in milk osmolality. Whereas, milk osmolality increased without any alterations in total solids of milk with 50% water restriction. It could be concluded that lactating Aardi goats possess a high capacity of withstanding water restriction when it was coupled with higher environmental temperature.