Virtual Water Demand And Its Comparative Analysis Study Of Shanbei White Cashmere Goat With Tan Sheep

Shaanxi Province and Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region are the areas where there are active sheep industry of China. At the same time they are also the main suppliers of mutton and other sheep products in China.Feed production, sheep breeding process are required to consume a lot of water.Shaanxi Province and Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region are located in the inland Northwest China, and water resources of these two places are extremely scarce.The rapid development of sheep industry exacerbated the contradiction of water supply and demand.Climatic parameters, crop yields, feed intake, water intake and water service,livestock structure are the main factors to be considered in the estimate of virtual water requirements of sheep industry. In this study, data query, empirical research, mathematical models, computational analysis, comparative study were accomplished to reasonably quantify the virtual water requirement of sheep breeding process. Simultaneously, this study also analyzed the factors which influenced the virtual water requirement of typical sheep breeds in Northern China. This study can provide experimental basis for improving the virtual water productivity of sheep industry and can also provide data base for the smooth implementation of virtual water strategy in Shaanxi Province and Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. This study consists of two independent experiments and a comparative analysis experiment. The main results are shown as follows:(1) Virtual water requirement for rearing a Shanbei White Cashmere Goat from birth to36 months is 217.14 m3. Virtual water requirement for rearing from birth to 36 months of a ram is 240.23 m3 and virtual water requirement for rearing from birth to 36 months of a ewe is194.06 m3. Virtual water requirement for rearing a Shanbei White Cashmere Goat of 0-2months per day is 0.016±0.009 m3; Virtual water requirement for rearing a Shanbei White Cashmere Goat of 2-10 months per day is 0.092±0.028 m3; Virtual water requirement for rearing a Shanbei White Cashmere Goat of 10-14 months per day is 0.195±0.030 m3; Virtual water requirement for rearing a Shanbei White Cashmere Goat of 14-34 months per day is0.257±0.043 m3; Virtual water requirement for rearing a Shanbei White Cashmere Goat of 34 months or more per day is 0.286±0.042 m3. Feed virtual water accounts for more than 99% of the required amount of virtual water aquaculture. Virtual water productivity of rams is greater than ewes. Virtual water productivity increases with age decreases.(2) Virtual water requirement for rearing a Tan Sheep from birth to 36 months is 496.07m3. Virtual water requirement for rearing from birth to 36 months of a ram is 522.28 m3 and virtual water requirement for rearing from birth to 36 months of a ewe is 469.85 m3. Virtual water requirement for rearing a Tan Sheep of 0-2 months per day is 0.054±0.005 m3; Virtual water requirement for rearing a Tan Sheep of 2-10 months per day is 0.385±0.032 m3; Virtual water requirement for rearing a Tan Sheep of 10-14 months per day is 0.835±0.073 m3;Virtual water requirement for rearing a Tan Sheep of 14-34 months per day is 0.455±0.021 m3;Virtual water requirement for rearing a Tan Sheep of 34 months or more per day is0.484±0.021 m3. Feed virtual water accounts for more than 99% of the required amount of virtual water aquaculture. Virtual water productivity of rams is greater than ewes. Virtual water productivity increases with age decreases.(3) Virtual water productivity of Tan Sheep is lower than virtual water productivity of Shanbei White Cashmere Goat at all stages. Virtual water requirements for unit ADG of Shanbei White Cashmere Goat is 6.04m3. Virtual water requirements for unit ADG of Tan Sheep is 15.53m3.