This experiment was carried out at Maryout Research Station of the Desert
Research Center, located 35km south west of Alexandria, to study the role of some
hair coat characteristics of Baladi goats under stress of solar radiation and water
salinity on some adaptive physiological parameters. The experimental period
extended from the first of July to the middle of September 2000. Twenty adult Baladi
bucks were randomly divided into four equal groups. Two groups were exposed to
solar radiation and the two other groups were raised under shade. One of the two
exposed groups was allowed to drink tap water (0.3g/L TOS) and the second group
was offered saline seawater (13.1 gIL TOS). The same respective order was done in
the other shaded groups. Staple length (STL), fibre diameter (FO), medullated fibres
percentage (C1 ,C2 and C3) were measured. Plasma total protein (TP), albumin (AI),
globulin (GI), NG ratio, sodium (Na), urea (UR) and creatinine concentrations were
determined. Results revealed that each of drinking saline water and exposure to solar
radiation caused a significantly decrease in body weight for all experimental groups.
The lost in body weight was higher (4.03kg) in the shaded-saline watered group, while
it was lower in control group (0.90 kg). TP, AI and GI were significantly
(P<0.05)decreased in response to drinking saline water and also exposure to sun
rays, while NG ratio, plasma Na, CRE and UR concentrations were significantly
increased. A significant (P<0.01) correlation was found between both of CRE (r= -
0.88) and Na (r= - 0.81) concentrations and fibre diameter, while the correlation
between the all studied blood constituents and staple length was not significant. On
the other hand, staple length and medullated fibre percentage diluted the effect of
solar radiation on body weight loss