Effect of Frequency on Water turnover rates and Fasting metabolic rates of Growing goats

Abstract

An experiment was designed to investigate the effect of feeding frequency and of age on the fasting metabolic rate and water turnover rates by young goats. The fasting metabolic rate was estimated indirectly by measuring the oxygen consumption using open circuit calorimeter. Water turnover rate was estimated using Tritium labelled water. The results showed that both the fasting metabolic rate and water turnover rates decreased significantly as the animal grew older. Fasting metabolic rate decreased from (55 KJ/kg ^0.75) per day at an age of 9 days to (360 KJ/kg ^0.75) per day at 5 months. Water turnover rates decreased from (281ml/kg^0.75) per day at 9 days to 197ml/kg ^0.75) per day at 5 months. Feeding frequency had no effect on both water turnover rate and fasting metabolic rate.