Comparison of Body Temperatures of Goats, Horses, and Sheep Measured With a Tympanic Infrared Thermometer, an Implantable Microchip Transponder, and a Rectal Thermometer

Abstract

Body temperature of goats, horses, and sheep was measured, using 3 methods. Tympanic temperature was measured with a tympanic infrared thermometer, subcutaneous temperature was measured with an implantable microchip transponder, and rectal temperature was measured with a digital thermometer. For goats, rectal and subcutaneous temperatures were significantly higher than tympanic temperatures, but rectal and subcutaneous temperatures did not differ significantly. For horses and sheep, rectal temperatures were significantly higher than tympanic and subcutaneous temperatures, and tympanic temperatures were significantly higher than subcutaneous temperatures. Tympanic infrared thermometry correlated well with traditional rectal thermometry in goats and sheep and should be considered as a viable alternative in those species. Additionally, implantable microchip transponders in goats could be used, because those temperatures also correlated well with temperatures derived by rectal thermometry. Due to the poor correlation with rectal thermometry and reaction of some animals to insertion of the tympanic probe, neither of the alternative methods appear to be useful in horses at this time. Tympanic infrared thermometers and implantable microchip transponders were convenient to use and allowed temperature measurements to be obtained more rapidly than when rectal thermometers were used.