INFLUENCE OF WATER SALINITY

The objective of this study was to evaluate feed and water consumption and performance of Santa Inês sheep receiving water with different salinity levels. The study was conducted in the Laboratory of Rural Constructions and Ambience - LaCRA, of the Universidade Federal de Campina Grande - UFCG, located in the municipality of Campina Grande - PB, using 6 non-castrated sheep, with initial average body weight of 26 ± 4.5 kg, confined in individual stalls, provided with feeding and drinking trough, at an average temperature of 22.5°C, consuming water with salinity levels of 1.5, 3.0, and 6.0 dS.m-1. The experimental design was entirely randomized with three treatments and two repetitions. Data were not significant (p >= 0.05) for feed consumption, which averaged 1138 g/day. For water consumption there was significance at the level of (p < 0.05), where the average consumption was 3.08 kg/day, with the highest consumption in the third treatment of 6.0 dS.m-1, where the consumption was 3.76 kg/day.