Direct heat stress-induced effects on rumen fermentation characteristics and nutrients degradability in sheep pair-fed alfalfa hay
Abstract
Aim of the study: To investigate the direct effect of heat stress on rumen fermentation characteristics and nutrients degradability of pair-fed rams to subsequently eliminate the confounding effects of dissimilar feed intake induced by heat stress exposure.
Area of study: Saudi Arabia.
Material and methods: Five rumen-cannulated desert rams (45 ± 1.63 kg body weight; 2–3 years of age) were placed individually in controlled climatic-chambers to be exposed to two successive periods. The 1st period was a control thermoneutral period (TN; 23.64 ± 0.14 °C; extended for 21 days) followed by a 2nd period of heat stress (HS; 44.26 ± 1.70 °C, for another 21 days). Each period was consisted of a temperature acclimation phase (7 days) and a data collection phase (14 days). Alfalfa hay was offered twice daily during both periods in a pair-fed manner (800 g DM per head and day).
Main results: Exposing pair-fed desert rams to elevated ambient temperature had (p<0.05) elevated their respiration rate and skin temperature, without noticeable (p>0.05) changes in their rectal temperature. Most of the rumen fermentation characteristics and nutrients degradability were not affected by HS (p>0.05). However, exposure to HS increased (p<0.05) pre-feeding rumen total volatile fatty acids concentrations, pre-feeding molar proportion of acetate, and post-feeding rumen osmolality.
Research highlights: HS had no direct effect on post-feeding rumen fermentation characteristics and nutrients degradability in desert sheep. This implies that strategic approaches to mitigate the adverse effects of HS have to be directed towards promoting feed intake and nutrients utilization under such conditions.Downloads
References
Abdel-Hafez MAM, 2002. Studies on the reproductive performance in sheep. Doctoral thesis. Univ. Zagazig, Zagaziig, Egypt.
Adedeji TA, 2012. Effect of some qualitative traits and non-genetic factors on heat tolerance attributes of extensively reared West African Dwarf (WAD) goats. Int J Appl Agric Res 8: 68-81.
Al-Haidary AA, Aljumaah RS, Alshaikh MA, Abdoun KA, Samara EM, Okab AB, Alfuraiji MM, 2012. Thermoregulatory and physiological responses of Najdi sheep exposed to environmental heat load prevailing in Saudi Arabia. Pak Vet J 32: 515-519.
Ames DR, Nellor JE, Adams T, 1971. Energy balance during heat stress in sheep. J Anim Sci 32: 748-788. https://doi.org/10.2527/jas1971.324784x
Anderson BE, 1989. Temperature regulation and environmental physiology, In: Dukes' physiology of domestic animals, 10th ed; Swenson MJ, (ed.). pp: 719-727. Cornell Univ Press, Ithaca, NY.
AOAC, 1997. Official methods of analysis. Association of Official Analytical Chemists, Washington, DC, USA.
Baumgard LH, Rhoads RP, 2013. Effects of heat stress on post-absorptive metabolism and energetics. Annu Rev Anim Biosci 1: 311-337. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-animal-031412-103644
Baumgard LH, Rhoads RP, Rhoads ML, Gabler NK, Ross JW, Keating AF, Boddicker RL, Lenka S, Sejian V, 2012. Impact of climate change on livestock production. In: Environmental stress and amelioration in livestock production; Sejian V et al. (eds.). pp: 413-468. Springer Verlag, Berlin. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-29205-7_15
Bergman EN, 1990. Energy contribution of volatile fatty acids from the gastrointestinal tract in various species. Physiol Revis 70: 567-590. https://doi.org/10.1152/physrev.1990.70.2.567
Bernabucci U, Lacetera N, Danieli PP, Bani P, Nardone A, Ronchi B, 2009. Influence of different periods of exposure to hot environment on rumen function and diet digestibility in sheep. Int J Biometeorol 53: 387-395. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-009-0223-6
Bernabucci U, Lacetera N, Baumgard LH, Rhoads RP, Ronchi B, Nardone A, 2010. Metabolic and hormonal acclimation to heat stress in domesticated ruminants. Animal 4: 1167-1183. https://doi.org/10.1017/S175173111000090X
Cain JW, Krausman PR, Rosenstock SS, Turner JC, 2006. Mechanisms of thermoregulation and water balance in desert ungulates. Wildlife Soc Bull 34: 570-581. https://doi.org/10.2193/0091-7648(2006)34[570:MOTAWB]2.0.CO;2
Chaidanya K, Soren NM, Sejian V, Bagath M, Manjunathareddy GB, Kurien E, Varma G, Bhatta R, 2017. Impact of heat stress, nutritional stress and combined (heat and nutritional) stresses on rumen associated fermentation characteristics, histopathology and HSP70 gene expression in goats. J Anim Behav Biometeorol 5: 36-48.
da Silva WE, Leite JHGM, de Sousa JER, Costa WP, da Silva WST, Guilhermino MM, Asensio LAB, Façanha DAE, 2017. Daily rhythmicity of the thermoregulatory responses of locally adapted Brazilian sheep in a semiarid environment. Int J Biometeorol 61: 1221-1231. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-016-1300-2
Das R, Sailo L, Verma N, Bharti P, Saikia J, Kumar R, 2016. Impacts of heat stress on health and performance of dairy animals- A review. Vet World 9: 260-268. https://doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2016.260-268
Gauly M, Bollwen H, Breves G, Brugemann K, Dänicke S, Daş G, Demeler J, Hansen H, Isselstein J, König S, et al., 2013. Future consequences and challenges for dairy cow production systems arising from climate change in Central Europe- A review. Anim Consort 7: 843-859. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1751731112002352
Ghassemi-Nejad J, Sung KI, 2017. Behavioral and physiological changes during heat stress in Corriedale ewes exposed to water deprivation. J Anim Sci Technol 59: 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40781-017-0140-x
Hall M, 2009. Heat stress alters ruminal fermentation and digesta characteristics, and behavior in lactating dairy cattle. Proc 11th Int Symp of Ruminant Physiology; Chilliard Y et al. (eds.). pp: 204-205. Wageningen, Netherlands.
INRA, 1978. Alimentation des ruminants. INRA Publ, Versailles.
Kadzere CT, Murphy MR, Silanikove N, Maltz E, 2002. Heat stress in lactating dairy cows: A review. Livest Prod Sci 77: 59-91. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0301-6226(01)00330-X
Kelly RO, Martz FA, Johsnon HD, 1967. Effects of environmental temperature on ruminal volatile fatty acids levels with controlled feed intake. J Dairy Sci 50: 531-533. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(67)87460-5
King CC, Dschaak CM, Eun JS, Fellner V, Young AJ, 2011. Quantitative analysis of microbial fermentation under normal or high ruminal temperature in continuous cultures. Profess Anim Sci 27: 319-327. https://doi.org/10.15232/S1080-7446(15)30495-2
LPHSI, 1990. Livestock and poultry heat stress indices agriculture engineering technology guide. Clemson Univ, SC, USA.
Marai IF, El-Darawany AA, Fadiel A, Abdel-Hafez MAM, 2007. Physiological traits as affected by heat stress in sheep a review. Small Rumin Res 71: 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2006.10.003
Martz FA, Payna CP, Matches AG, Belyea RL, Warren WP, 1990. Forage intake ruminal dry matter disappearance and ruminal blood volatile fatty acids for steers in 18 and 32C temperatures. J Dairy Sci 73: 1255-1278. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(90)78793-0
McDonald I, 1981. A revised model for the estimation of protein degradability in the rumen. J Agric Sci 96: 251-252. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0021859600032081
McLeroy GB, 1961. The sheep of the Sudan: An extensive survey and system of classification. Sudan J Vet Anim Husb 2: 19-35.
Mehrez AZ, Ørskov ER, 1977. A study of artificial fiber bag technique for determining the digestibility of feeds in the rumen. J Agric Sci 88: 645-650. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0021859600037321
Nocek JE, Russell JB, 1988. Protein and energy as an integrated system: relationship of ruminal protein and carbohydrate availability to microbial protein synthesis and milk production. J Dairy Sci 71: 2070-2107. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(88)79782-9
Nonaka I, Takusari N, Tajima K, Suzuki T, Higuchi K, Kurihara M, 2008. Effects of high environmental temperatures on physiological and nutritional status of prepubertal Holstein heifers. Livestock Sci 113: 14-23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2007.02.010
O'Brien MD, Rhoads RP, Sanders SR, Duff GC, Baumgard LH, 2010. Metabolic adaptations to heat stress in growing cattle. Domest Anim Endocrinol 38: 86-94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.domaniend.2009.08.005
Rathwa SD, Vasava AA, Pathan MM, Madhira SP, Patel YG, Pande AM, 2017. Effect of season on physiological, biochemical, hormonal and oxidative stress parameters of indigenous sheep. Vet World 10: 650-654. https://doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2017.650-654
Rhoads ML, Rhoads RP, Van Baale MJ, Collier RJ, Sanders SR, Waber WJ, Crooker BA, Baumgard LH, 2009. Effects of heat stress and plane of nutrition on lactating Holstein cows: I. Production, metabolism and aspects of circulating somatotropin. J Dairy Sci 92: 1986-1997. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2008-1641
Robertshaw D, 1981. The environmental physiology of animal production. In: Environmental physiology aspects of housing for animal production; Clark JA (ed.). pp: 3-17. Butterworths, London. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-408-10688-7.50007-2
Rout PK, Kaushik R, Ramachandran N, Jindal SK, 2017. Identification of heat stress-susceptible and -tolerant phenotypes in goats in semiarid tropics. Anim Prod Sci 58: 1349-1357. https://doi.org/10.1071/AN15818
Salles MSV, Zanetti MA, Salles FA, Titto EAL, Conti RMC, 2010. Changes in ruminal fermentation and mineral serum level in animals kept in high temperature environments. Revis Brasil Zootec 39: 883-890. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1516-35982010000400025
Saro C, Ranilla MJ, Tejido ML, Carro MD, 2014. Influence of forage type in the diet of sheep on rumen microbiota and fermentation characteristics. Livestock Sci 160: 52-59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2013.12.005
SAS, 2009. Statistical analysis system user's guide statistics. SAS Inst. Inc. Cary, NC, USA.
Silanikove N, 1992. Effects of water scarcity and hot environment on appetite and digestion in ruminants, a review. Livestock Prod Sci 30: 175-194. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0301-6226(06)80009-6
Silanikove N, 2000. Effects of heat stress on the welfare of extensively managed domestic ruminants. Livestock Prod Sci 67: 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0301-6226(00)00162-7
Smith FE, Murphy TA, 1993. Analysis of rumen ammonia & blood urea nitrogen. https://animalscience.unl.edu/Research/RumNut/RumNutLab/84-analysisofrumenammonia.pdf [4 Aug 2020].
Tajima K, Nonaka I, Higuchi K, Takusari N, Kurihara M, Takenaka A, Aminov RI, 2007. Influence of high temperature and humidity on rumen bacterial diversity in Holstein heifers. Anaerobe 13: 57-64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anaerobe.2006.12.001
Uyeno Y, Sekiguchi Y, Tajima K, Takenaka A, Kurlahara M, Kamagata Y, 2010. An RNA-based analysis for evaluating the effect of heat stress on the rumen microbial composition of Holstein heifers. Anaerobe 16: 27-33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anaerobe.2009.04.006
Wheelock JB, Rhoads RP, Vanbaale MJ, Sanders SR, Baumgard LH, 2010. Effects of heat stress on energetic metabolism in lactating Holstein cows. J Dairy Sci 93: 644-655. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2009-2295
Wojtas K, Cwynar P, Kołcz R, 2014. Effect of thermal stress on physiological and blood parameters in merino sheep. Bullet Vet Inst Pulawy 58: 283-288. https://doi.org/10.2478/bvip-2014-0043
Yadav B, Singh G, Wankar A, Dutta N, Verma AK, Chaturvedi VB, 2012. Effect of heat stress on digestibility in crossbred cattle. Proc 8th Biennial Conf of ANAC and Symp on Animal Nutrition Research Strategies for Food Security; Pattaniak AR (ed.). pp: 138. Bikaneer, Rajasthan.
© CSIC. Manuscripts published in both the printed and online versions of this Journal are the property of Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, and quoting this source is a requirement for any partial or full reproduction.
All contents of this electronic edition, except where otherwise noted, are distributed under a “Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International” (CC BY 4.0) License. You may read here the basic information and the legal text of the license. The indication of the CC BY 4.0 License must be expressly stated in this way when necessary.
Self-archiving in repositories, personal webpages or similar, of any version other than the published by the Editor, is not allowed.
