Shorn and unshorn Awassi sheep I. Body temperature

1963 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 159-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Eyal

1. The rectal temperatures of shorn and unshorn Awassi sheep were measured at various hours of the day and during various seasons of the year in two different locations in Israel.2. An increase in body temperature accompanied an increase in environmental temperature. A steeper temperature increase was noted in shorn sheep kept in the shade. When ambient temperatures were below 30° C. the body temperature of shorn sheep was lower than that of the unshorn sheep by an average of 0·16° C.3. When ambient temperatures were above 30° C. the body temperature of shorn sheep was equal to or higher than that of unshorn ones.4. Upon exposure to direct sunlight, the body temperature of shorn sheep exceeded that of unshorn animals. However, when the animals were transferred to the shade, or after sunset, the shorn sheep cooled at a faster rate. Their body temperature fell below that of the unshorn sheep during the cool hours of the day.5. Wind velocity, both in the shade and in the sun, had a greater effect on shorn than on unshorn sheep.6. A rise in the relative humidity of ambient temperatures above 25° C. caused body temperature to rise, particularly in unshorn animals. The body temperature of shorn sheep exceeded that of unshorn ones when the animals were maintained in a hot and dry environment.7. While the body of the shorn sheep was entirely affected by the macroclimate, the unshorn sheep were greatly influenced by the microclimate existing in the fleece. Fleece temperatures always lagged behind and were rarely equal to environmental temperatures. Since it was postulated that heat tolerance of certain animals was related to their ability to exploit cool hours of the day, it is suggested that in certain ‘tolerance tests’ records should be taken not only during exposure to heat but also during cool hours of the day.

1963 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Eyal

1. A comparison was made between the pulse rate of shorn and unshorn sheep maintained in the shade and direct sunlight during the various seasons of the year.2. The variability of the pulse rate during the day generally agreed with the daily changes in body temperature and presumed level of metabolism. Fluctuations were greater in unshorn sheep.3. Pulse rate was lower during summer (60–100 for unshorn and 63–100 for shorn sheep) than in winter (90–130 for unshorn and 90–115 for shorn sheep). It tended to increase with a rise in ambient temperature, especially during winter and spring. A lower pulse rate accompanied a rise in environmental temperature, during summer. The slowest pulse rate of 42 per minute was observed during summer in the hot dry area.4. The pulse rate of both groups increased with a rise in rectal temperature, particularly at low ambient temperatures. At comparable rectal temperatures, a higher average pulse rate was observed in shorn sheep during winter and spring. With elevated summer temperatures, equal pulse rates were noted in both groups of equal rectal temperatures. Since the rectal temperatures of the shorn exceeded that of unshorn sheep, in high environmental temperatures, and in the sun, their pulse rate under these conditions was also higher.5. The differences in pulse rate between the two groups appeared to reflect the combined effects of metabolic rate, body temperature and the vasomotor activity, all of which vary with season and environmental temperatures.


1963 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 183-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Eyal

1. A comparison was made between the skin temperature, humidity and temperature within and on the surface of the fleece of unshorn and shorn sheep. This study was conducted during various seasons of the year, at different environmental temperatures, while sheep were maintained in the shade or subjected to direct sunlight.2. Accompanying the rise of ambient temperature (in the shade) from 10 to 43° C. there was an increase in skin temperature from 34 to 40° C. and from 28 to 40° C. of the unshorn and shorn sheep, respectively.3. The relationship between the rise in skin temperature and that of ambient temperature was not linear, but showed a stepwise pattern in which the ‘breaks’ occurred at similar environmental temperatures for both groups, although skin temperatures of shorn sheep were lower than the unshorn.4. The diurnal change in skin temperature of the shorn sheep was similar to that of the ambient temperature. The decrease in skin temperature of unshorn sheep sometimes lagged behind the fall in environmental temperature. The seasonal variations between summer and winter were more significant in shorn than in unshorn sheep.5. Fleece surface temperatures measured at the same ambient temperatures ranged between 13 and42° C. and 16·5–39·5° C. in the unshorn and shorn sheep, respectively. In the break points of the rise in skin temperature, there occurred a drop in temperature gradients between the skin and fleece surface. This probably indicates a rise in thermal conductivity of the fleece at these points.6. The temperature gradient per unit of fleece thickness is inversely related to the depth of fleece and is greater the nearer to the skin.7. With exposure to the sun, skin temperatures of both groups greatly increased and occasionally reached 47° C. Under these conditions the differences between shorn and unshorn groups were not consistent.8. Fleece temperatures of unshorn sheep increased greatly upon exposure to the sun. The maximal temperatures were recorded midway between the fleece surface and skin. These temperatures generally reached 55° C. and sometimes even exceeded 60° C.9. At ambient temperatures of 30–35° C. the vapour pressure close to the skin of unshorn sheep ranged between 35–40 mm. Hg. With shorn sheep, however, the vapour pressure close to the skin was similar to that of the environment. In Yotvata there was a rise in vapour pressure close to the skin when the ambient temperature increased to 40–43° C. This rise in humidity was paralleled by a rise of vapour pressure throughout the wool. It was not linear but rather showed a ‘step-wise’ pattern.10. The vapour pressure in fleece and near the skin of sheep subjected to direct sunlight increased considerably (up to 80 mm. Hg). This rise showed a wave-like curve with various degrees of persistency. Appearance of fluid on the skin of Awassi sheep was observed on several occasions.


1963 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 175-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Eyal

1. Respiration rate of shorn and unshorn sheep was compared; animals were maintained in the shade and in direct sunlight during various seasons of the year, and at different hours of the day. The average respiration rate, for all seasons when sheep were maintained in the shade, was 55 and 32 respirations per minute, for the unshorn and shorn sheep, respectively.The diurnal trend of the respiration rate of shorn sheep resembled that of the ambient temperature. There was a delay in the lowering of respiration rate of the unshorn sheep during the evening hours.2. The critical temperature for the increase in respiration of animals maintained in the shade was 22° C. and 26–30° C. for the unshorn and shorn sheep, respectively.When the animals were exposed to the direct sunlight the critical ambient temperature for the increase in respiration rate was 15–18° C. and 18–22° C. for the unshorn and shorn sheep, respectively. The respiration rate of the shorn sheep exceeded that of the unshorn but decreased very steeply when the animals returned to the shade.3. The effect of humidity was noted particularly with ambient temperatures exceeding 27° C. The respiration rate of the unshorn sheep increased and that of the shorn decreased with the rise in the relative humidity. In the sun there was a rise in the respiration rate of both groups with increase in humidity. The rise was steeper in the shorn animals.4. The effect of the wind in reducing respiration rate was particularly noted on shorn sheep and at elevated ambient temperatures.5. With equal rectal temperature, the respiration rate of shorn sheep was lower than that of the unshorn ones. Assumed critical rectal temperature for the rise in respiration rate was lower in the unshorn sheep.6. The differences between the respiration responses of the unshorn and shorn sheep stemmed from the variation in their thermal balance. The latter resulted from the differences in the insulating characteristics of body surface and the differences between the macroclimate and the microclimate existing in the fleece.


1986 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 139-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eivin Røskaft ◽  
Karl Erik Zachariassen ◽  
Geoffrey M. O. Maloiy ◽  
John M. Z. Kamau

ABSTRACTEast African tenebrionid beetles of the species Zophosis congesta are active on sun-exposed surfaces in dry habitats during the hottest part of the day, when most other animals have retreated to protected areas. They remain on the surface at ambient temperatures up to 65°C which is 15°C above their highest tolerated body temperature. The beetles appear to regulate their body temperature behaviourally. They frequently rest and cool in the shade, and after each cooling period they remain on the sun-exposed surface until the heat influx from the environment has caused the body temperature to rise close to the lethal level. They have relatively low rates of transpiratory water loss, and appear unable to depress their body temperature by means of evaporative heat loss. The rate of metabolic production of water amounts to only about 20% of the rate of transpiratory water loss. Thus, the beetles depend strongly on water intake from dietary sources. The advantage of this type of activity pattern is probably avoidance of predators.


1962 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. B. Bailey ◽  
R. Hironaka ◽  
S. B Slen

Temperatures in the rumen, rectum, and subcutaneous tissues of four sheep receiving [Formula: see text] pounds of alfalfa hay per day were recorded at environmental temperatures of 15 °C. and −12 °C. The temperature of the drinking water was 20 °C. when the environmental temperature was 15 °C. and variously 0°, 10°, 20°, and 30 °C. during four different periods when the environmental temperature was −12 °C. At both environmental temperatures, the temperature in the rumen was higher than that in the rectum which, in turn, was higher than that in the subcutaneous tissues. The consumption of feed caused a transient increase in the temperature in the rumen and rectum while the consumption of water caused a transient decrease in the temperature in the rumen. A reduction in environmental temperature from 15 °C. to −12 °C. caused decreases in the temperatures in the rumen, rectum, and subcutaneous tissues, and reduced water intake from about 1600 to about 800 milliliters/day. At an environmental temperature of −12 °C., the temperature of the drinking water did not influence the amount of water consumed. It did, however, have an effect on body temperature because the average temperature in the rectum was slightly higher when the drinking water was 0 °C. than when it was 30 °C.


1982 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 410-415 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Furuyama

The survival times of unanesthetized rats in 42.5 degree C. 48% rh were studied in 12 different strains. In males, Sprague-Dawley rats (P less than 0.01) and Fisher 344/MK (P less than 0.05) showed significantly higher heat tolerance than the other 9 strains. Among Sprague-Dawley rats, females tolerated heat longer than males (P less than 0.05). There was no difference in lethal body temperature according to strains and exposure temperatures (38.5–48.5 degree C). Maximum survivable body temperature was 43.1 degree C in males and 43.3 degree C in females. The body weight loss in heat was greater in Sprague-Dawley, Fisher 344/MK, and JCL:Wistar strains. The degree of saliva spreading during the equilibrium period just below the maximum survivable body temperature correlated significantly with heat tolerance and was found to be the index of strain difference in heat tolerance. These findings demonstrated that the thermoregulatory system of rats is controlled genetically, though survival times of individuals in different strains sometimes overlap.


2014 ◽  
Vol 42 (01) ◽  
pp. 13-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. D. Kruse ◽  
R. Müller ◽  
C. Stockhaus ◽  
K. Hartmann ◽  
A. Wehner ◽  
...  

Summary Objective: Measurement of rectal temperature is the most common method and considered gold standard for obtaining body temperature in dogs. So far, no study has been performed comparing agreement between rectal and auricular measurements in a large case series. The purpose of the study was to assess agreement between rectal and auricular temperature measurement in normothermic, hypothermic, and hyperthermic dogs with consideration of different environmental conditions and ear conformations. Materials and methods: Reference values for both methods were established using 62 healthy dogs. Three hundred dogs with various diseases (220 normothermic, 32 hypothermic, 48 hyperthermic) were enrolled in this prospective study. Rectal temperature was compared to auricular temperature and differences in agreement with regard to environmental temperature, relative humidity, and different ear conformations (pendulous versus prick ears) were evaluated using Pearson’s correlation coefficient and Bland-Altman analysis. Results: Correlation between rectal and auricular temperature was significant (r: 0.892; p < 0.01). However, Bland-Altman plots showed an inacceptable variation of values (bias: 0.300 °C; limits of agreement: –0.606 to 1.206 °C). This variation was above a maximal clinical tolerance of 0.3 °C, which was established by experts’ opinion (n = 16). Relative humidity had a significant influence (p = 0.001), whereas environmental temperature did not. Conclusion: Variation between the two methods of measuring body temperature was clinically unacceptable. Clinical relevance: Although measurement of auricular temperature is fast, simple, and well tolerated, this method provides a clinically unacceptable difference to the rectal measurement.


2003 ◽  
Vol 51 (6) ◽  
pp. 603 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. P. Ikonomopoulou ◽  
R. W. Rose

We investigated the metabolic rate, thermoneutral zone and thermal conductance of the eastern barred bandicoot in Tasmania. Five adult eastern barred bandicoots (two males, three non-reproductive females) were tested at temperatures of 3, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40°C. The thermoneutral zone was calculated from oxygen consumption and body temperature, measured during the daytime: their normal resting phase. It was found that the thermoneutral zone lies between 25°C and 30°C, with a minimum metabolic rate of 0.51 mL g–1 h–1 and body temperature of 35.8°C. At cooler ambient temperatures (3–20°C) the body temperature decreased to approximately 34.0°C while the metabolic rate increased from 0.7 to 1.3 mL g–1�h–1. At high temperatures (35°C and 40°C) both body temperature (36.9–38.7°C) and metabolic rate (1.0–1.5 mL g–1 h–1) rose. Thermal conductance was low below an ambient temperature of 30°C but increased significantly at higher temperatures. The low thermal conductance (due, in part, to good insulation, a reduced body temperature at lower ambient temperatures, combined with a relatively high metabolic rate) suggests that this species is well adapted to cooler environments but it could not thermoregulate easily at temperatures above 30°C.


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