Yokoyama-Kano JS, Alzina-López A, Farfán-Escalante JC, Valencia-Heredia. ER

Language: Spanish
References: 20
Page: 17-26
PDF size: 66.75 Kb.

ABSTRACT

This preliminary study was carried out to determine the relasionship between the the thermal conditions in the facilities and the thermoregulative behaviour (looking for shade) and corporal position (standing up or laying) in hybrid bovines Bos taurus x Bos indicus during July, September, and November of 1998. Five ranches located in different zones were selected: two on the coast with BSO climate and three in the east zone with climate AW1. One animal of the same age, sex, color, and physiological state from each ranch was selected; all the animals had the same management conditions and were under similar facilities: 12 m² for living space and 2 m² of shade. The behaviour of the animals was registred following the continous recording method from 6 a.m to 6 p.m. The environmental temperature (ET), humidity (HA), temperature of black globe under sun (BNsol) and shade (BNsom) was measured every hour during the period of behavioural observation and recording. The thermal conditions of the environment (ET, Bnsol and Bnsom) registered indicate that the animals were under high environmental heat load compared with the ranges of temperature reported as confort zone. Similar conditions were observed for HA, and the mean was higher than the levels reported as ideal. In both zones the animals looked for shade during the hours of highest heat load in every month (from 10 to 15 hours) but it was more evident in the animals located in the oriental zone. The tendency to look for shade in both zones was similar during the study but more evident in the oriental zone compared to animals raised on the coast. The animals of the coastal zone stood still and laid down under sun for longer periods as compared to the animals located in the oriental zone which remained standing and under shade for longer periods of time. The difference could be attributed to floor conditions, oceanity and continentality that influence the direction, wind speed and ET. The goal of these behavioural patterns of the animals was focused on regulation of heat gain and loss to maintain the normal internal temperature of the body. Due to the characteristics of the environment the animals from the oriental zone try to find more shade to reduce heat gain from direct sun radiation and lose heat by convective mechanism, while the animals located in the coast zone can disipate heat by condution and convection mechanisms by simply lying down to keep their thermal equilibrium.

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