Cold or warm water awassi sheep prefer under heat stress?

The aim of this investigation to verify the effect of providing either cold or warm water on feed intake, physiological parameters, and behavioral responses in sheep under heat stress condition. Twelve Awassi sheep were randomly allocated to two treatment groups with three hours drinking interval and ad libitumfeeding. The first group (N=6) animals were watered warm water coming from water tanks exposed to sun and the second group watered with cold water with a temperature less than 10o C. Individual feed and water intake were measured daily, respiratory rate was measured three times a day, while rectal temperature and body weight were measured once a weekFurthermore, animal behavior by using scan sampling were noticed three times a week. Results showed that water and feed intake per metabolic body weight showed significant differences in both groups, with a higher amount of warm water intake and lower amount of feed intake in the same group. Respiratory rate and rectal temperature were significantly higher in a warm water group. Furthermore, animal behavior confirmed these differences. However, these results suggest that providing of cold water to sheep under heat stresswould dissipate heat better and promote greater animal comfortably.