Effects of Sprinkler Flow Rate on Physiological, Behavioral and Production Responses of Nili Ravi Buffaloes during Subtropical Summer

Abstract

Water buffaloes wallow in water to combat heat stress during summer. With the decreasing reservoirs for wallowing, the farmers use sprinklers to cool the buffaloes in Pakistan. These sprinklers use a large quantity of groundwater, which is becoming scarce. The objective of the current study was to determine the effect of different sprinkler flow rates on the physiological, behavioral, and production responses of Nili Ravi buffaloes during summer. Eighteen buffaloes were randomly subjected to three sprinkler flow rate treatments in a double replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design. The flow rates were 0.8, 1.25, and 2.0 L/min. During the study, the average afternoon temperature humidity index was 84.6. The 1.25 and 2.0 L/min groups had significantly lower rectal temperature and respiratory rates than the 0.8 L/min group. Water intake was significantly higher in the 0.8 L/min group. Daily milk yield was higher in the 1.25 and 2.0 L/min groups than in the 0.8 L/min group. These results suggested that the sprinkler flow rates > 0.8 L/min effectively cooled the buffaloes. The sprinkler flow rate of 1.25 L/min appeared to be more efficient, as it used 37.5% less water compared to the 2.0 L/min.

Keywords: behavior; dairy buffaloes; heat stress; performance; sprinkler cooling; welfare.

Figure 1

Schematic diagram of the experimental shed to investigate the effect of different sprinkler flow rates and cooling schedules on cooling efficiency in Nili Ravi buffaloes during summer. The dashed lines (---), cross in a circle (), and combined doted three lines () indicate windows, fans, and sprinklers, respectively, and each sprinkler was for one buffalo.

Figure 2

Average temperature (A), relative humidity (B), and temperature humidity index (THI) (C) values for the three study periods in each phase. Shaded triangle represents the inside pen and plain square represents the outdoor open area. Phase 1 lasted for 21 days from 16 May to 5 June and phase 2 from 10 June to 30 June.

Figure 2

Average temperature (A), relative humidity (B), and temperature humidity index (THI) (C) values for the three study periods in each phase. Shaded triangle represents the inside pen and plain square represents the outdoor open area. Phase 1 lasted for 21 days from 16 May to 5 June and phase 2 from 10 June to 30 June.