Thermorespiratory responses of shorn and unshorn sheep to mild heat stress

Abstract

Three 3-year-old ewes with surgically exteriorized carotid loops were twice exposed to ambient temperatures (Ta) of 25, 30, 35 and 40 C (at constant 40% relative humidity) for 120 min in the presence (6.6 cm) and absence (less than 0.3 cm) of fleece. Thermoregulatory responses were evaluated during the last 30 min of each exposure by measurements of rectal (Tre), 6 skin surface temperatures (Ts), respiratory frequency (f), oxygen consumption (Vo2) and respiratory evaporative heat (Er); arterial blood samples were analyzed for pH, Pco2 and HCO-3 concentration. Both shorn and unshorn sheep exhibited a progressive increase in f, Er and Ts as Ta was elevated, with the unshorn group showing a higher Er than the shorn sheep at each Ta without a significant change in heat production. Er was found to be the principal avenue of heat loss, accounting for as much as 59% of the total in the shorn sheep compared to65% for the unshorn sheep. Increases in Er were accompanied by a decline in the arterial Pco2 which was linearly related to the Ta in both shorn and unshorn sheep. These data suggest that in defending against hyperthermia, sheep appear unable to increase Er without a concurrent elevation in Va at nearly allstages of acute heat stress.