Physiological, Hematological and Biochemical responses in Hararghe-highland Lamb Subjected to Water Salinity Levels of Lake Basaka in a semiarid area of Ethiopia

Abstract The current study aimed to evaluate the effect of drinking salinity levels in Lake water on the growth performance, physiological, and blood constituents of Hararghe-highland lambs. A total of 28 lambs (average IBW of 18±1.18kg) were categorized into four levels of water salinity, namely freshwater (510mg/l TDS), lake Basaka water (LBW; 2600mg TDS/L); lake Basaka water plus 100% TDS of LBW; 5200mg TDS/L) and lake Basaka water plus 200% TDS of LBW; 7900mg TDS/L). The current results suggest that increased TDS levels in lake water increase the water intake of lambs while not affecting IBW, FBW, AWG, and FCR. Additionally, drinking saline lake with increasing TDS levels increased RT and RR and caused a significant (P<0.05) change in the concentrations of glucose, albumin, urea, triglycerides, sodium, AST, ALT, T3, and T4. Some hematological variables and biochemical constituents like creatinine, total protein, cholesterol, chlorides, potassium, magnesium, and calcium showed no significant (P>0.05) differences. In conclusion, Hararghe-highland lambs from Ethiopia could tolerate lake Basaka water with a high salt level (7952mg/L TDS).