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. 2022 Dec 8;12(24):3473.
doi: 10.3390/ani12243473.

Effect of Thermal Stress on Thermoregulation, Hematological and Hormonal Characteristics of Caracu Beef Cattle

Natalya G Abduch  1 , Bianca V Pires  2 , Luana L Souza  3 , Rogerio R Vicentini  4 , Lenira El Faro Zadra  1 , Breno O Fragomeni  5 , Rafael M O Silva  6 , Fernando Baldi  3 , Claudia C P Paz  1 , Nedenia B Stafuzza  1
Affiliations

Effect of Thermal Stress on Thermoregulation, Hematological and Hormonal Characteristics of Caracu Beef Cattle

Natalya G Abduch et al. Animals (Basel). .

Abstract

This study evaluated the influence of environmental temperature on thermoregulation, hormonal, and hematological characteristics in Caracu cattle. Blood samples, hair length, coat and muzzle colors, rectal (RT), and surface temperatures were collected from 48 males and 43 females before (morning) and after sun exposure for eight hours (afternoon). Infrared thermography (IRT) was used to identify superficial temperature that exhibits a high correlation with RT. Hematological parameters, hormone concentrations, RT, and the superficial temperature obtained by IRT that exhibited the highest correlation with RT were evaluated by variance analysis. Regarding IRT, the lower left side of the body (LS) showed the highest correlation with the RT. Interaction between period and sex was observed for LS, cortisol, and eosinophils. Cortisone, progesterone, and RT were influenced by period and sex. Neutrophils and segmented neutrophils were influenced by the period, which showed the highest concentrations after sun exposure. Platelets, leukocytes, lymphocytes, and monocytes were influenced by sex. Heat stress changes several physiological characteristics where males and females exhibited differences in their responses to heat stress. Furthermore, most characteristics evaluated remained within the regular values observed for taurine Creole breeds, showing that Caracu is adapted to tropical climates.

Keywords: Bos taurus; adaptability; hemogram; infrared thermography; thermotolerance.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Thermographic images and subregions traced the left side of the body, muzzle, loin, and left eye in Caracu. (A) The left side of the body: e = upper (US), f = lower (LS); (B) Muzzle: g = caudal area of the muzzle (CM), h = middle of the muzzle (MM); (C) Loin: i = left (LL), j = middle (LM), k = right (LR); (D) Left eye: l = lacrimal canal region (LC), m = eye globe (EG). Rainbow palette: light colors indicate warmer temperatures (white) and, dark colors indicate cooler temperatures (dark blue), other colors indicate intermediate temperatures.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The least square means obtained for the superficial temperature of the lower side of the body (LS) obtained by infrared thermography (p < 0.0001), cortisol (p < 0.05), and eosinophils (p < 0.05) according to sex and period interaction.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Hair length distribution according to rectal temperature (RT) and the superficial temperature of the lower side of the body (LS) obtained by infrared thermography.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Coat color distribution according to rectal temperature (RT) and the superficial temperature of the lower side of the body (LS) obtained by infrared thermography. Coat color 1: cream; Coat color 2: yellow; Coat color 3: orange; and Coat color 4: red.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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