Effect of flavored water on water ıntake and lamb performance

Abstract

Water is a vital nutrient, constituting 99% of the molecules in the bodies of all organisms. This study investigated the effects of different flavored waters on dry matter intake, live weight gain, feed conversion rate, aroma preference, and total water consumption in weaned lambs. Twenty Central Anatolian Merino lambs (10 males and 10 females) from a private sheep farm in the Konya Ereğli region were used. The lambs were divided into two groups, with 5 males and 5 females in each group. The control group (C) received plain water ad libitum, while the experimental group (A) had access to orange-flavored water, cream-flavored water, and plain water ad libitum. In the study, different flavored waters did not affect feed consumption or live weight gains of the lambs (p>0.05). The control group consumed 4.09±0.1 L/day of water, while the experimental group consumed 4.16±0.08 L/day, with no significant difference between the groups (p>0.05). The feed conversion ratios were similar for both groups (4.29±0.23 for the control group and 4.02±0.26 for the experimental group) (p>0.05). Dry matter consumption was 1.36±0.01 kg/day in the control group and 1.35±0.01 kg/day in the experimental group. Orange-flavored water was not preferred by the lambs in the experimental group. The consumption of cream-flavored and plain water was similar. Consequently, adding orange and cream flavors to water did not affect water consumption, dry matter consumption, live weight gain, or feed conversion ratio. The lack of preference for the orange flavor and the additional cost and labor involved suggest that there is no benefit in adding flavors to water.