Journal of Arid Environments Journal of Arid Environments 72 (2008) 141–149 Physiological and chemical responses in water-deprived Awassi ewes treated with vitamin C A.M. Ghanem, L.S. Jaber, M. Abi Said, E.K. Barbour, S.K. Hamadeh à Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, American University of Beirut, Riad El-Solh 1107-2020, P.O. Box 11-0236, Beirut, Lebanon Received 11 April 2006; received in revised form 8 June 2007; accepted 8 June 2007 Available online 20 July 2007 Abstract The effect of vitamin C on water stress response was evaluated in 12 dry Awassi ewes. Ewes were randomly divided to three groups of four, one receiving daily water (W) and the other two (Groups R and V) received only 1 L of water on the 4th day and 3 L on the 8th, over a 12-day experimental period in July 2004. Group V was daily administered with oral vitamin C supplementation at the rate of 10 g per animal for a 4-day preparation period prior to water restriction and 2.5 g per animal thereafter. Group V showed an attenuated response to water restriction as compared to Group R, in many physiological parameters: body weight, rectal temperature, PCV, serum protein, albumin and globulin, and blood Na + and Cl À concentrations. On the other hand, serum cholesterol and free fatty acids (FA) showed slightly higher and similar values, respectively, as compared to group R. Other parameters showed no significant difference between groups namely, serum glucose and cortisol and blood K + concentrations, and pH. The results seem to validate the approach of vitamin C supplementation for water-stress alleviation in sheep, however, much research is still needed to establish the most effective dosage and route of administration under field conditions. If proven successful, such an easy alleviation method would be most beneficial to farmers and producers of the arid/semi-arid regions where water shortage is a common challenge imposed by the harsh weather, long road transportations, etc. r 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Electrolytes; Fat mobilization; Semi-arid environment; Stress alleviation 1. Introduction In semi-arid regions, such as West Asia and North Africa (WANA), the dry season may prevail for more than 7 months. Local fat-tailed sheep breeds like the Awassi, are well adapted to desert conditions in that they are strong walkers, resistant to heat and disease, and can utilize the driest pasture. In the face of the threat of global warming, such adaptations are highly valuable for sustaining animal production under an increasingly challenging environment (In˜iguez, 2005). ARTICLE IN PRESS www.elsevier.com/locate/jaridenv 0140-1963/$ - see front matter r 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.jaridenv.2007.06.005 à Corresponding author. Tel.: +961 1 350000x4458; fax: +961 1 744460. E-mail addresses: ag16@aub.edu.lb (A.M. Ghanem), lj01@aub.edu.lb (L.S. Jaber), mabisaid@cyberia.net.lb (M. Abi Said), eb01@aub.edu.lb (E.K. Barbour), shamadeh@aub.edu.lb (S.K. Hamadeh).