3.2.1. Non-domestic species living in an arid environment
Dehydration at 22 °C depressed the food intake of the Grant's
gazelle by 34% and in the Oryx by 40% (Table 1). These values on
reduced food intake were significant (Pb 0.01). The changes in food
intake brought about by an exposure to an intermittent heat load and
dehydration were similar in the Grant's gazelle to the resulting effect
of dehydration alone (i.e. 34%). For the Oryx, however, the reduction in
food intake resulting from the combined effects of dehydration and an
intermittent heat load at 40 °C were considerably less than those
attributed to dehydration alone (i.e. 21% vs. 40%). Dry matter
digestibility in the Grant's gazelle was not altered (PN 0.05) by
dehydration and an intermittent heat load (Table 3). When water
was restricted in the Oryx, however, dry matter digestibility decreased
significantly (i.e. 61% vs. 57%; Pb 0.05), and increased following
dehydration and exposure to an intermittent heat load at 40 °C (i.e.
62% vs. 65%; Pb 0.05).