Effect of Thermal Stress on Thermoregulation, Hematological and Hormonal Characteristics of Caracu Beef Cattle
Natalya G. Abduch,
Bianca V. Pires,
Luana L. Souza,
Rogerio R. Vicentini,
Lenira El Faro Zadra,
Breno O. Fragomeni,
Rafael M. O. Silva,
Fernando Baldi,
Claudia C. P. Paz,
Nedenia B. Stafuzza
Affiliations
Natalya G. Abduch
Centro Avançado de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento em Bovinos de Corte, Instituto de Zootecnia (IZ), Sertãozinho 14174-000, SP, Brazil
Bianca V. Pires
Departamento de Genética, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP), Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto 14049-900, SP, Brazil
Luana L. Souza
Departamento de Zootecnia, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV), Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho (UNESP), Jaboticabal 14884-900, SP, Brazil
Rogerio R. Vicentini
Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora (UFJF), Juiz de Fora 36036-900, MG, Brazil
Lenira El Faro Zadra
Centro Avançado de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento em Bovinos de Corte, Instituto de Zootecnia (IZ), Sertãozinho 14174-000, SP, Brazil
Breno O. Fragomeni
Department of Animal Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
Rafael M. O. Silva
Zoetis, 04710-230, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
Fernando Baldi
Departamento de Zootecnia, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV), Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho (UNESP), Jaboticabal 14884-900, SP, Brazil
Claudia C. P. Paz
Centro Avançado de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento em Bovinos de Corte, Instituto de Zootecnia (IZ), Sertãozinho 14174-000, SP, Brazil
Nedenia B. Stafuzza
Centro Avançado de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento em Bovinos de Corte, Instituto de Zootecnia (IZ), Sertãozinho 14174-000, SP, Brazil
This study evaluated the influence of environmental temperature on thermoregulation, hormonal, and hematological characteristics in Caracu cattle. Blood samples, hair length, coat and muzzle colors, rectal (RT), and surface temperatures were collected from 48 males and 43 females before (morning) and after sun exposure for eight hours (afternoon). Infrared thermography (IRT) was used to identify superficial temperature that exhibits a high correlation with RT. Hematological parameters, hormone concentrations, RT, and the superficial temperature obtained by IRT that exhibited the highest correlation with RT were evaluated by variance analysis. Regarding IRT, the lower left side of the body (LS) showed the highest correlation with the RT. Interaction between period and sex was observed for LS, cortisol, and eosinophils. Cortisone, progesterone, and RT were influenced by period and sex. Neutrophils and segmented neutrophils were influenced by the period, which showed the highest concentrations after sun exposure. Platelets, leukocytes, lymphocytes, and monocytes were influenced by sex. Heat stress changes several physiological characteristics where males and females exhibited differences in their responses to heat stress. Furthermore, most characteristics evaluated remained within the regular values observed for taurine Creole breeds, showing that Caracu is adapted to tropical climates.
