FACTORS AFFECTING HEAT TOLERANCE IN CROSSBRED CATTLE IN CENTRAL BRAZIL

Authors

  • Concepta Margaret McManus Universidade de Brasília, Campus Darcy Ribeiro, Brasilia, DF, 70910-900
  • Helder Louvandini CENA, Univerisidade de São Paulo Piracicaba, SP
  • Tiago Prado do Paim Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura, Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo
  • Flávia Cristina Paula e Silva Unniversidade de Brasília, INCT-Pecuária
  • Francisco Ernesto Moreno Bernal Universidade de Brasília

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5216/cab.v15i2.8726

Keywords:

environment

Abstract

This study compared the adaptation traits in common crosses of crossbred dairy cattle in central Brazil. Twenty animals of each of three genetic groups were used: zebu (Bos indicus), Simmental x Zebu (SZ) and Holstein x Zebu (HZ). The test measured variations in rectal temperature (RT), respiration rate (RR) and heart rate (HR) of animals in the shade and after exposure to the sun, as well as mean daily milk production throughout the lactation period. The procedure was repeated three times. There were significant interactions between test group and genetic group for the traits investigated and the correlations among traits were low. The RR of the crossbred groups may be controlling body temperature in such a way as not to cause an increase in RT. Milk production influenced RR in crossbred cows exposed to the sun, confirming their poorer adaptation in comparison with zebu cows. We observed that the adaptation can be measured in terms of production within the same genetic group. In conclusion, the crosses with European breeds produced more milk than zebu, although they were influenced by heat/solar radiation.

KEYWORDS: dairy cattle, heart rate, milk production, rectal temperature, respiration rate.

 

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Published

2014-06-29

How to Cite

MCMANUS, C. M.; LOUVANDINI, H.; DO PAIM, T. P.; PAULA E SILVA, F. C.; BERNAL, F. E. M. FACTORS AFFECTING HEAT TOLERANCE IN CROSSBRED CATTLE IN CENTRAL BRAZIL. Brazilian Animal Science/ Ciência Animal Brasileira, Goiânia, v. 15, n. 2, p. 152–158, 2014. DOI: 10.5216/cab.v15i2.8726. Disponível em: https://revistas.ufg.br/vet/article/view/8726. Acesso em: 2 jul. 2024.

Issue

Section

Animal Production