EFFECT OF THERMAL-STRESS AND WATER RESTRICTION ON CORTISOL LEVEL OF BEETAL AND BLACK-BENGAL GOATS

The study was conducted on 5-6-month-old male kids (9 Beetal and 9 Bla ck Bengal). Sis kids ii om each breed were divided into 2 groups. in 1 group water was not withheld, whereas in tile other it was withheld f or 36 hr before exposure to thermal stress (43.5+/-0.5 degrees C. RH 5 5%). The observations were recorded bt fore exposure and then at 1/2 h r intervals during 2 iir exposure. Cortisol concentration in control, thermal stress and thermal stress coupled with water stress groups wer e 17.6+/-2.68 54.3+/-1.71 and 38.5+/-5.13 ng/ml in Beetal and 48.1+/-3 .60, 43.7+/-5.32 and 55.5+/-5.72 ng/ml in Black Bengal goats. respecti vely. Significant increase In cortisol level was observed in Beetal on exposure to thermal stress, but the increase was nonsignificant in Bl ack Bengal. It is concluded that Black Bengal were more adapted to hot humid conditions than Beetal.