Effect of the Silvopastoral System on the Thermal Comfort of Lambs in a Subtropical Climate: A Preliminary Study
Frederico Márcio C. Vieira,
Jaqueline Agnes Pilatti,
Zilmara Maria Welfer Czekoski,
Vinicius F. C. Fonsêca,
Piotr Herbut,
Sabina Angrecka,
Edgar de Souza Vismara,
Vicente de Paulo Macedo,
Maiane Cristina Rodrigues dos Santos,
Iwona Paśmionka
Affiliations
Frederico Márcio C. Vieira
Biometeorology Study Group (GEBIOMET), Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná (UTFPR), Dois Vizinhos Campus, Estrada para Boa Esperança, km 04, Comunidade São Cristóvão, Dois Vizinhos 85660-000, Brazil
Jaqueline Agnes Pilatti
Biometeorology Study Group (GEBIOMET), Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná (UTFPR), Dois Vizinhos Campus, Estrada para Boa Esperança, km 04, Comunidade São Cristóvão, Dois Vizinhos 85660-000, Brazil
Zilmara Maria Welfer Czekoski
Biometeorology Study Group (GEBIOMET), Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná (UTFPR), Dois Vizinhos Campus, Estrada para Boa Esperança, km 04, Comunidade São Cristóvão, Dois Vizinhos 85660-000, Brazil
Vinicius F. C. Fonsêca
Animal Science Department, Federal University of Paraíba, Rodovia PB 079, km 12, Areia 58397-000, Brazil
Piotr Herbut
Department of Rural Building, Faculty of Environmental Engineering and Land Surveying, University of Agriculture in Krakow, 31-120 Kraków, Poland
Sabina Angrecka
Department of Rural Building, Faculty of Environmental Engineering and Land Surveying, University of Agriculture in Krakow, 31-120 Kraków, Poland
Edgar de Souza Vismara
Biometeorology Study Group (GEBIOMET), Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná (UTFPR), Dois Vizinhos Campus, Estrada para Boa Esperança, km 04, Comunidade São Cristóvão, Dois Vizinhos 85660-000, Brazil
Vicente de Paulo Macedo
Animal Science Coordination, Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná (UTFPR), Dois Vizinhos Campus, Estrada para Boa Esperança, km 04, Comunidade São Cristóvão, Dois Vizinhos 85660-000, Brazil
Maiane Cristina Rodrigues dos Santos
Biometeorology Study Group (GEBIOMET), Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná (UTFPR), Dois Vizinhos Campus, Estrada para Boa Esperança, km 04, Comunidade São Cristóvão, Dois Vizinhos 85660-000, Brazil
Iwona Paśmionka
Department of Microbiology and Biomonitoring, Faculty of Agriculture and Economics, University of Agriculture in Krakow, 31-120 Kraków, Poland
The silvopastoral system has the potential to alleviate the negative impacts of heat stress on livestock. Through a preliminary study, we assessed the thermal environment experienced by hair coat lambs, as well as the impacts on their bio-thermal and behavioural responses, when either kept in either the silvopastoral system, or exposed to full sun. Twelve hair coat lambs (Dorper × Santa Ines) were randomly assigned to a silvopastoral system or full sun exposure during the summer (from January to February 2017). Parameters, including air temperature, black globe temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and ground surface temperature, were measured daily for both thermal environments. From 14:00 to 16:00, lambs kept in silvopastoral areas experienced lower levels of air temperature, radiant heat load, and ground surface temperature. Consequently, they had a lower hair coat surface and lower body rectal temperatures. Lambs exposed to a shaded environment spent more time grazing and walking, and less time standing at rest. In conclusion, lambs kept in a silvopastoral system experienced lower levels of radiant heat load and ground surface temperature. In addition, the animals showed a reduced requirement for evaporative cooling and expressed behaviours that indicated a comfortable thermal environment.
