Impact of shelter in hot Mediterranean climate on feed intake, feed utilization and body fluid distribution in sheep.

Sheep fully exposed to Mediterranean summer conditions had a higher respiration rate and a higher body temperature than sheep with access to shade. Nevertheless, feed intake and water intake of non-sheltered animals was not different from that of sheltered ones and both maintained their body weight on medium quality hay. Apparent digestibility of organic matter was higher in the non-sheltered animals than in the sheltered ones. The mean retention time of undigested feed in the rumen and in the entire digestive tract was higher in the non-sheltered animals than in the sheltered ones. Water turnover rate was only slightly higher in the non-sheltered animals than in the sheltered ones. However, plasma volume and extracellular volume were significantly higher in non-sheltered than in sheltered animals. The volume of water in the alimentary tract was not different between the two groups.