The effect of cyclical and severe heat stress on growth performance and metabolism in Afshari lambs.

The extent to which reduced feed intake contributes to decreased growth during heat stress (HS) in the ovine model is not clear. To evaluate the impact of decreased DMI on performance, we conducted an experiment on growing lambs experiencing a cyclical but extensive heat load. Sixteen intact male Afshari lambs (40.1 ± 1.9 kg) were used in a completely randomized design in 2 periods. In period 1, all 16 lambs were housed in thermal neutral (TN) conditions (22.2 ± 3.1°C and a temperature-humidity index [THI] of 67.9 ± 3.2) and fed at libitum for 8 d. In period 2 (P2), which lasted 9 d, 8 lambs were subjected to a cyclical HS condition (33.0 to 45.0°C and a THI of more than 80 at least for 24 h/d and more than 90 for 8 h/d). The other 8 lambs were maintained in TN conditions but pair-fed (pair-fed thermal neutral [PFTN]) to the HS lambs. During each period, DMI and water intake were measured daily. Respiration rate, rectal temperature, and skin temperature at the shoulder, rump, and front and rear leg were recorded at 0700 and 1400 h daily. Dry matte intake declined (17.5%; P < 0.01) in HS lambs and, by design, the temporal pattern and magnitude of reduced feed intake was similar in the PFTN controls. Water intake increased (19%; P < 0.05) during P2 in HS but not in the PFTN controls. Heat stress increased the 0700 and 1400 h skin temperature at the shoulder (5 and 9.2%), rump (6.2 and 10.3%), rear (6 and 9.2%), and front leg (6.5 and 9.8%) and respiratory rates (84 and 163% [P < 0.01]at 0700 and 1400 h, respectfully), but only the 1400 h rectal temperature was increased (P < 0.01; 0.65°C) in HS lambs. Neither environment nor period affected blood urea nitrogen and glucose concentrations. However, circulating NEFA and insulin were increased and declined (P < 0.01) in PFTN lambs, respectively, but neither variable was altered in the HS lambs. Growth was reduced in P2 for lambs in both treatments, but despite being on a similar reduced plane of nutrition, the HS lambs' ADG was more than 2-fold greater than the PFTN controls. These results indicate that HS markedly alters the energetics of weight gain during growth and that the effects of HS are dependent on the severity of the heat load.