The Effect of Infrequent Water Intake on the Consumption and Digestibility of Hay by Zebu Cattle

Abstract

Zebu oxen were fed an ad lib. ration of chaffed hay during a series of studies to test the effects of restricted water intake on digestive efficiency. The watering regimes were (a) ad lib consumption whenever the animals wished; (b) water available for I hour every 48 hours; and (c) water available for I hour every 72 hours. These intervals were chosen to simulate conditions in the arid and semiarid regions of East Africa.