Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-zzh7m Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-29T20:03:57.001Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Observations on the effects of temperature and distance to water on the behaviour of Merino and Border Leicester sheep

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

G. T. Daws  and
V. R. Squires
G. T. Daws
Affiliation:
Division of Land Resources Management, CSIRO, Rangelands Research Unit, Riverina Laboratory, Private Bag, P.O., Deniliquin, N.S.W. 2710, Australia
V. R. Squires
Affiliation:
Division of Land Resources Management, CSIRO, Rangelands Research Unit, Riverina Laboratory, Private Bag, P.O., Deniliquin, N.S.W. 2710, Australia
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

The effects of ambient temperature on the daily behaviour patterns and water consumption of Border Leicester and Merino wethers were examined in an experiment where food was supplied ad libitum at points ranging from 2·4 to 5·6 km from water. The data were collected during a 12-week period when daily maximum temperatures ranged from 24 °C to 45 °C.

At distances where twice-daily drinking appeared normal and maximum air temperatures exceeded 38 °C, Merinos abandoned the afternoon walk to water, and the Border Leicesters either abandoned the walk or reduced consumption. However, until the temperature reached 38 °C water intakes of both breeds were positively related to temperature. Border Leicesters increased consumption at a mean rate of 0·42 ± 0·072 l/head/°C until maximum ambient temperatures approached 38 °C, compared with the Merino rate of 0–17 ± 0·054 l/head/°C.

Border Leicesters responded to temperature by drinking earlier in the mornings as minimum overnight temperatures rose, and by increased night activity when mean night temperatures exceeded 25 °C. Merinos showed no such response.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 82 , Issue 3 , June 1974 , pp. 383 - 390
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1974

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Appleman, R. D. & Delouche, J. C. (1958). Behavioural, physiological and biochemical responses of goats to temperature, 0° to 40 °C. Journal of Animal Science 17, 326–35.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bonsma, J. C., Scholtz, G. D. J. & Badenhorst, F. J. G. (1940). The influence of climate on cattle. Fertility and hardiness on certain breeds. Farming in South Africa 15, 7–12, 16.Google Scholar
Brown, G. D. & Williams, O. B. (1970). Geographical distribution of the productivity of sheep in Australia. Journal of the Australian Institute of Agricultural Science 36, 182–98.Google Scholar
Lamkin, G. H. & Quarterman, J. (1962). Observations on the grazing habits of grade and Zebu cattle. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 59, 119–23.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Larkin, R. M. (1954). Observations of the grazing behaviour of beef cattle in tropical Queensland. Queensland Journal of Agricultural Science 11, 115–41.Google Scholar
Lynch, J. J. (1967). Ranging behaviour of sheep in large areas. Proceedings of the Ecological Society of Australia 2, 167–9.Google Scholar
Macfarlane, W. V., Howard, B. & Siebert, B. D. (1967). Water metabolism of Merino and Border Leicester sheep grazing saltbush. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 18, 947–58.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Moule, G. R. (1956). The performance of sheep in semiarid Queensland. Arid Zone Research 11, 235–42.Google Scholar
Payne, W. J. A. (1966). a Nutrition of ruminants in the tropics. Nutrition Abstracts and Reviews 36, 653–70.Google Scholar
Rhoad, A. O. (1938). Some observations on the response of pure bred Bos taurus and Bos indicus cattle and their cross bred types to certain conditions of the environment. Record of the Proceedings of the American Society of Animal Production 31st Ann. Meet. p. 284.Google Scholar
Snedecor, G. W. & Cochran, W. G. (1967). Statistical Methods, 6th ed.Iowa State College Press: Ames, Iowa.Google Scholar
Squires, V. R., Daws, G. T. & Bawden, R. A. (1969). An automatic recording unit for photographic studies of behavior of domestic animals. Journal of the Biological Photographic Association 37, 188–98.Google ScholarPubMed
Squires, V. R. & Wilson, A. D. (1971). Distance between food and water supply and its effects on drinking frequency, and food and water intake of Merino and Border Leioester sheep. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 22, 283–90.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thwaites, C. J. (1968). Heat stress and wool growth in sheep. Proceedings of the Australian Society of Animal Production 7, 259–63.Google Scholar