Effect of Salt Stress on Some Biochemical and Hormonal Parameters of Pregnant Shami Goats and Their Growing Kids under Semi-Arid Conditions (original) (raw)

S hortage of feed resources and salinity of water are common characteristics in marginal regions of desert areas and it is considered the main constraints to improve livestock productivity. The use of alternative feed resources from salt tolerant plants was proved to be useful in these regions (El-Shaer, 2006; 2010; Fayed et al., 2010). However, high salt intakes through feed stuffs or water decrease ruminant's productivity. Nevertheless, small ruminants could cope against these harsh conditions. Martin-Gronert (2006) found that adaptive responses such as alternation in water intake and hormonal changes could adapt pregnant ewes to a high dietary salt intake. He added that when high salt intake comes from feed alone, and there is an unlimited supply of freshwater, the animal can cope by increasing water intake and therefore increasing the salt excreting capacity by the kidneys. In pregnant ewes, Digby et al. (2008) found that the consumption of a 13% NaCl diet causes a decrease in aldosterone concentration reached research Article Abstract | This study aimed at investigating the effect of drinking saline water and feeding salt tolerant plant on some physiological parameters of pregnant Shami goats and their offspring. Forty late pregnant goats (at 4 th and 5 th months of pregnancy) were randomly divided into 2 groups (20 each). The 1 st group (control; C) was fed a diet consisted of concentrate feed mixture (CFM) plus berseem hay and drank fresh tap water (274 ppm TDS). The 2 nd group (S) was fed CFM plus Alfalfa and drank saline water (6000 ppm TDS). The treatment lasted to the weaning of their kids at 90 days of age. Body weight gain was significantly lower in females of S group than in control ones. Similar trend was observed in kids body weight gain from birth tell weaning. Total plasma proteins of pregnant Shami does were not affected by salt intake, but decreased with advancing pregnancy in females of the two experimental groups. Kids of S group had higher (P<0.05) levels of all plasma proteins than found in kids of C group. Total lipids and insulin decreased (P<0.05) by salt intake in pregnant goats and their kids. Leptin decreased (P<0.05) in pregnant does of S group but not in their kids. Liver and kidney functions indicators significantly increased in both does and their kids of group S. Blood electrolytes (Na and K) and plasma osmolality increased significantly in does drank saline water and their kids which have negative feedback on aldosterone. In conclusion, Shami goats can tolerate a high salt intake and living under harsh condition of marginal regions with minimum weight loss. Their offspring will be programmed to alter their adaptive response to grow well under these harsh conditions.