Effect of floor space allowances on physiological and haematological parameters in Vizianagaram Lambs

Introduction

Sheep farming plays an important role in rural livelihoods, especially in countries like India where it supports income generation and food security. Indigenous breeds are generally preferred because they are well adapted to local climatic conditions and can perform reasonably well even under limited feeding and management resources. Vizianagaram sheep is one such meat-type breed found in the northern coastal region of Andhra Pradesh. These animals are known for their adaptability and consistent growth under both field and farm conditions. In recent years, there has been a gradual shift from traditional grazing systems to more intensive forms of rearing. Because of this, proper housing management has become increasingly important. Among different housing factors, floor space allowance is a key aspect. When animals are provided with sufficient space, they are able to move freely, rest comfortably, and access feed without much competition. On the other hand, restricted space may lead to stress and reduced performance. Physiological parameters such as rectal temperature, respiration rate, and pulse rate are useful indicators of how animals respond to their environment. Similarly, haematological parameters give an idea about the health status and overall condition of the animals. However, only limited information is available on how floor space affects these parameters in Vizianagaram lambs. So, the present study was taken up to evaluate the effect of different space allowances under intensive rearing conditions.

Materials and Methods

The experiment was conducted at the Sheep Unit of the Livestock Research Station (LRS), Garividi, in Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh, under an intensive system of management for a period of 90 days. Twenty-four healthy post-weaned Vizianagaram lambs were selected from the station flock for the study. All animals were examined prior to the experiment and only clinically healthy animals were included in the study. Prior to the commencement of the trial, the lambs were maintained under uniform conditions for 15 days to allow acclimatization and to adapt to the housing environment, feeding schedule, and routine management practices. During this adaptation period, the animals were dewormed with fenbendazole at a dose rate of 7.5 mg/kg body weight as a preventive measure, and the treatment was repeated once during the middle of the experimental period to control internal parasitic infections. After the acclimatization period, the lambs were randomly allocated into three treatment groups based on their body weight, with eight animals in each group to ensure uniform distribution. Throughout the study, the animals were housed in clean, well-ventilated pens and maintained under proper hygienic conditions. Each group was allotted a different floor space allowance as per the experimental design.

Statistical Analysis

The data were analysed using (ANOVA) as per Snedecor and Cochran (1994) to assess the effect of different floor space allowances on the studied parameters.

Results

Effect of Floor Space Allowances on Physiological parameters in Lambs

Rectal temperature showed noticeable variation among the treatment groups. Lambs maintained under lower space allowance recorded slightly higher values compared to those provided with more space. As the experiment progressed, a gradual decline in temperature was seen in all groups. Respiration rate did not show much difference among the groups at any stage of the study. The values remained almost similar throughout, indicating that space allowance had little effect on this parameter. Pulse rate, however, showed a different pattern. Higher values were observed in lambs kept under restricted space.

Over time, the pulse rate decreased gradually in all groups, suggesting that the animals were adapting to the conditions. It was clearly observed that while some parameters responded to space variation, others remained stable across treatments.

Faecal egg count

Faecal egg count increased gradually from the beginning to the end of the study in all groups. Although slightly higher values were noticed in some cases, the differences were not statistically significant. This indicates that parasite load was not directly affected by the space provided under the given conditions.

Effect of Floor Space Allowances on Hematological Parameters in Lambs

Haematological parameters showed some clear differences among the groups. Lambs provided with more space had better haemoglobin levels, packed cell volume, and total erythrocyte count. This suggests an improved physiological condition in these animals.

On the other hand, total leucocyte count was higher in lambs kept under restricted space. This may be linked to mild stress conditions. However, parameters like MCV, MCH, and MCHC remained almost unchanged across all groups. Overall, it appears that increased space had a positive effect on important blood parameters, while some indices remained unaffected.

Discussion

The findings of the present study suggest that floor space allowance has a clear influence on certain physiological and haematological responses in Vizianagaram lambs. Lambs kept under restricted space showed slightly higher rectal temperature and pulse rate, which may be due to mild stress caused by limited movement and increased competition. It was also noticed that similar trends have been reported earlier, where higher stocking density affected physiological stress indicators in sheep (Akin et al., 2018; Chaumont et al., 2020) [1,4] . Respiration rate, however, did not differ significantly among treatments. This suggests that the level of space provided in the present study was sufficient to maintain normal respiratory function. Comparable findings were reported in sheep where respiration rate remained relatively stable despite variation in stocking density (Averós et al., 2014) [2] . FAMACHA score and faecal egg count did not show significant differences among treatment groups, indicating that floor space allowance had no direct influence on anaemia status or parasite load under the present management conditions. Earlier studies also suggest that parasitic load is more closely related to environmental and management factors rather than housing space alone. Haematological parameters showed a clearer response to variation in floor space. Lambs maintained under higher space allowance exhibited improved haemoglobin levels, packed cell volume, and total erythrocyte count, indicating better physiological status and oxygen-carrying capacity. In contrast, total leucocyte count was higher in lambs under restricted space, which may reflect a stress-related response. These findings are in agreement with earlier reports where stress conditions influenced haematological parameters in sheep.

Interestingly, erythrocyte indices such as MCV, MCH, and MCHC remained unchanged across treatments. This suggests that while overall blood profile responds to environmental conditions, red blood cell characteristics remain relatively stable. Similar trends have been reported in sheep reared under different environmental conditions (Seixas et al., 2021) [7] . Overall, the results suggest that although moderate variation in floor space may not influence all parameters, restricted space can induce mild physiological stress and affect key indicators. Providing adequate space appears to support better physiological stability and overall health in lambs under intensive rearing systems. These observations are in line with earlier findings on sheep housing and behaviour (Bøe and Faerevik, 2016) [3] . This trend was also clearly noticed during the experimental period.

Summary and Conclusion

From the present study, it can be concluded that floor space allowance has a measurable effect on certain physiological and haematological parameters in Vizianagaram lambs. Animals kept under restricted space showed higher rectal temperature and pulse rate, indicating possible stress. In contrast, lambs provided with more space showed better blood parameters, suggesting improved physiological condition. However, parameters like respiration rate, FAMACHA score, and faecal egg were not significantly affected. This indicates that while moderate variation in space may not influence all parameters, providing adequate space is still important for maintaining overall health and well-being of the animals.

References

1. Akin M, Yildirim A, Kocak S. Effects of transport stocking density on physiological stress responses in lambs. Small Rumin Res. 2018;165:57-62.
2. Averós X, Aparicio MA, Ferrari P, Guy JH, Hubbard C. Effect of stocking density on welfare indicators in sheep. Appl Anim Behav Sci. 2014;152:66-73.
3. Bøe KE, Faerevik G. Grouping and social behaviour of sheep under different housing conditions. Appl Anim Behav Sci. 2016;180:39-46.
4. Chaumont C, Servière J, Boissy A. Influence of stocking density on behavioural welfare of lambs. Appl Anim Behav Sci. 2020;223:104918.
5. Kumar S, Kumar R, Singh S. Haematological and biochemical responses of sheep under different management conditions. Vet World. 2022;15(5):123440.
6. El-Sabry MI, et al. Effects of environmental stress on physiological and haematological responses in sheep. Animals. 2023;13(3):456.
7. Seixas L, Peripolli V, Façanha DAE, Fischer V, Poli CHEC, Melo CB, et al. Physiological and hematological parameters of sheep reared in the tropics and subtropics. Arq Bras Med Vet Zootec. 2021;73(3):622-30.
8. Turini L, Foggi G, Mantino A, Gasparoni E, Vichi F, Silvi A, et al. Changes in hematological and biochemical parameters in dairy sheep under heat stress conditions. Vet Anim Sci. 2025;100419.
9. Wu Q, et al. Effects of stocking density on growth performance and physiological responses of lambs. J Agric Eng. 2024;2024:1-10.
10. Teja KV, Sreedhar S, Chakravarthi MK. Effect of housing conditions on haematological parameters of lambs. Indian J Anim Prod Manag. 2024;37(4):1-6.