Effects of temperature and temperature-humidity index on the reproductive performance of sows during summer months under a temperate climate

2016 ◽  
Vol 87 (11) ◽  
pp. 1334-1339 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kerstin Wegner ◽  
Christian Lambertz ◽  
Gürbüz Das ◽  
Gerald Reiner ◽  
Matthias Gauly
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Temperate Climate ◽  
Temperature Humidity Index ◽  
Humidity Index ◽  
Effects Of Temperature

scholarly journals Variations in the Temperature-Humidity Index and Dorsal Fat Thickness during the Last Trimester of Gestation and Early Postpartum Period Affect Fertility of Bos indicus Cows in the Tropics

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramiro F. Díaz ◽  
Carlos S. Galina ◽  
Sandra Estrada ◽  
Felipe Montiel ◽  
Gloriana Castillo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Postpartum Period ◽  
Bos Indicus ◽  
Early Postpartum Period ◽  
Temperature Humidity Index ◽  
Early Postpartum ◽  
Humidity Measurements ◽  
Humidity Index ◽  
Fat Thickness ◽  
Relative Change

In order to measure the influence of the temperature-humidity index (THI) and the variation of fat thickness on reproductive performance, ninety-two Bos indicus cows kept under grazing conditions were used in two farms in Veracruz (Mexico) and Puntarenas (Costa Rica). THI was calculated with the average environmental temperature and relative humidity. Measurements of fat thickness (FAT) were taken two weeks apart from the last trimester of gestation to approximately 80 days postpartum (dpp). Natural breeding was used in both farms. Time to conception was calculated based on the interval from days at risk to conception (DRC), which had to be at least 28 dpp. THI was between 65.4±2.9 and 73.2±1.5 in Veracruz and 75.4±0.26 and 76.5±0.55 in Puntarenas. Variations in THI were observed in Puntarenas whereas in Veracruz THI variations were more prominent. In Veracruz, loss of fat during the last trimester of gestation was on average 8.5%, whereas in the postpartum period it was 18.4% (P = 0.042). In Puntarenas, the variation in the last trimester of gestation was on average 18.7% and in the postpartum period was 10.5% (P = 0.012). The relative change in FAT in Veracruz was 36.7%, and in Puntarenas it was 29.3%. Overall, 60% of the cows became pregnant. FAT decreased the interval of DRC (R2=0.06; P=0.033) with a high relationship (R2=0.76; P< 0.0001) between THI and time to conception, in both farms. In conclusion, THI levels influence the reproductive performance in early postpartum period affecting DRC.

scholarly journals Critical Temperature-Humidity Index Thresholds Based on Surface Temperature for Lactating Dairy Cows in a Temperate Climate

Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 970
Author(s):  
Geqi Yan ◽  
Zhengxiang Shi ◽  
Hao Li
Keyword(s):  
Surface Temperature ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Rectal Temperature ◽  
Linear Models ◽  
Piecewise Linear ◽  
Temperate Climate ◽  
Physiological Data ◽  
Temperature Humidity Index ◽  
Lactation Stage ◽  
Humidity Index

Detecting the early signs of heat stress is highly important in dairy farming. The surface temperature (ST) of cattle can reflect their thermal status and using such a measuring method can be efficient and non-invasive. However, few studies have reported the temperature-humidity index (THI) thresholds for ST. This study aimed to identify the critical THI thresholds for the ST of dairy cows and to evaluate the effects of the lactation stage and the lactation number. The study included 233 Holstein lactating cows from July 2020 to October 2020 in a temperate climate in China. There were 1556 records of the rectal temperature, and the maximum ST (STmax) and average ST (STave) of the head, eye, cheek, ear, neck, trunk, udder, foreleg, and hindleg were recorded. Air temperature and relative humidity were recorded to calculate the average THI. Physiological data were collected twice daily (08:00–12:00, 14:00–16:00). The critical THI thresholds were determined using the breakpoints of piecewise linear models. The significance of breakpoints was tested using the Davies test. A one-way ANOVA was used to test the effect of the lactation stage (0–60 DIM, 61–200 DIM, 201–300 DIM, DIM is days in milk) and the lactation number (1, 2, 3+) on the THI thresholds. The results showed that the rectal temperature was significantly positively correlated with all the ST variables (0.57 ≤ r ≤ 0.71, p < 0.01). The critical THI thresholds for STmax (mean of 76.1 THI, range of 73.6 to 77.9 THI) were significantly higher than those for STave (mean of 72.6 THI, range of 69.1 to 77.2 THI) (p < 0.01). The lactation stage only significantly affected the thresholds for STmax (p < 0.05), and the lactation number did not significantly influence the thresholds for both STmax and STave (p > 0.05). This study concluded that the STave was more appropriate to define thresholds than the STmax. The threshold for the STave of the cheek (69.1 THI) was the lowest among the thresholds, indicating that the STave of the cheek could be a prior ST variable to determine critical THI thresholds. Our findings demonstrated the potential of using ST variables to define critical THI thresholds.

scholarly journals Effect of the Temperature-Humidity Index on Body Temperature and Conception Rate of Lactating Dairy Cows in Southwestern Japan

2011 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 450-456 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hisashi NABENISHI ◽  
Hiroshi OHTA ◽  
Toshihumi NISHIMOTO ◽  
Tetsuo MORITA ◽  
Koji ASHIZAWA ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Temperature ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Conception Rate ◽  
Temperature Humidity Index ◽  
Lactating Dairy Cows ◽  
Humidity Index

scholarly journals The Influence of Thermal Stress on Serum Biochemical Profile in Sheep

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Autukait ◽  
I. Poškienė ◽  
V. Juozaitienė ◽  
R. Antanaitis ◽  
W. Baumgartner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Stress ◽  
Biochemical Parameters ◽  
Climatic Factors ◽  
Small Ruminants ◽  
Cortisol Concentration ◽  
Stress Reactions ◽  
Temperature Humidity Index ◽  
Humidity Index ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
Suffolk Sheep

Background: Climatic factors, such as high temperature, high relative humidity, can induce a thermal stress in animals. The phenomenon of mammalian sensitivity to thermal stress, especially in small ruminants, is widely reported in the literature. The present study aimed to analyze temperature and humidity effects on serum metabolic profile and cortisol concentration in sheep. Methods: The experiment was conducted on 40 adult, non-lactating and non-pregnant Suffolk sheep from December 2018 to December 2019. The subgroups were formed by age (two groups): twenty sheep were about 1.5 years old (Group 1) and other twenty - about 3 years old (Group 2). Based on the value of the temperature-humidity index, the following three subgroups were formed: 1) temperature humidity index ≥20; 2) 20 greater than temperature-humidity index greater than 10 and 3) temperature-humidity index less than 10. Blood cortisol concentration and biochemical parameters were measured once per month on the same day, in identical animals. Result: The analysis of biochemical parameters revealed that Group 2 showed significantly higher values for creatinine, phosphorus, zinc and cortisol. All blood indicators, except iron, phosphorus and total bilirubin, were dependent on THI concentration. The highest positive correlation coefficient of cortisol was calculated with urea and total protein. It is concluded that both cortisol and biochemical parameters play a significant role in thermal stress reactions in the Suffolk sheep.

scholarly journals Critical Temperature-Humidity Index Thresholds for Dry Cows in a Subtropical Climate

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Véronique Ouellet ◽  
Izabella M. Toledo ◽  
Bethany Dado-Senn ◽  
Geoffrey E. Dahl ◽  
Jimena Laporta
Keyword(s):  
Heat Stress ◽  
Respiration Rate ◽  
Rectal Temperature ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Dry Matter Intake ◽  
Subtropical Climate ◽  
Dry Period ◽  
Environmental Indices ◽  
Temperature Humidity Index ◽  
Humidity Index

The effects of heat stress on dry cows are profound and significantly contribute to lower overall welfare, productivity, and profitability of the dairy sector. Although dry cows are more thermotolerant than lactating cows due to their non-lactating state, similar environmental thresholds are currently used to estimate the degree of heat strain and cooling requirements. Records of dry cow studies conducted over 5 years in Gainesville, Florida, USA were pooled and analyzed to determine environmental thresholds at which dry cows exhibit signs of heat stress in a subtropical climate. Dry-pregnant multiparous dams were actively cooled (CL; shade of a freestall barn, fans and water soakers, n = 107) or not (HT; shade only, n = 111) during the last 7 weeks of gestation, concurrent with the entire dry period. Heat stress environmental indices, including ambient temperature, relative humidity, and temperature-humidity index (THI), and animal-based indices, including respiration rate, rectal temperature and daily dry matter intake were recorded in all studies. Simple correlations were performed between temperature-humidity index and each animal-based indicator. Differences in respiration rate, rectal temperature and dry matter intake between treatments were analyzed by multiple regression. Using segmented regression, temperature-humidity thresholds for significant changes in animal-based indicators of heat stress were estimated. Stronger significant correlations were found between the temperature-humidity index and all animal-based indices measured in HT dry cows (−0.22 ≤ r ≤ 0.35) relative to CL dry cows (−0.13 ≤ r ≤ 0.19). Although exposed to similar temperature-humidity index, rectal temperature (+0.3°C; P &lt; 0.001) and respiration rate (+23 breaths/min; P &lt; 0.001) were elevated in HT dry cows compared with CL cows whereas dry matter intake (−0.4 kg of dry matter/d; P = 0.003) was reduced. Temperature-humidity index thresholds at which respiration rate and rectal temperature began to change were both determined at a THI of 77 in HT dry cows. No significant temperature-humidity threshold was detected for dry matter intake. At a practical level, our results demonstrate that dry cow respiration rate and rectal temperature increased abruptly at a THI of 77 when provided only shade and managed in a subtropical climate. Therefore, in the absence of active cooling, dry cows should be closely monitored when or before THI reaches 77 to avoid further heat-stress related impairments during the dry period and the subsequent lactation and to mitigate potential carry-over effects on the offspring.

Temperature-Humidity Index described by fractal Higuchi Dimension affects tourism activity in the urban environment of Focşani City (Romania)

2018 ◽  
Vol 136 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 1009-1019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana-Maria Ciobotaru ◽  
Ion Andronache ◽  
Nilanjan Dey ◽  
Martina Petralli ◽  
Mohammad Reza Mansouri Daneshvar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Urban Environment ◽  
Temperature Humidity Index ◽  
Humidity Index ◽  
Tourism Activity
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