Índices de conforto térmico e adaptabilidade de fêmeas bubalinas em pastejo no Agreste de Pernambuco

Abstract

The objectives of this work were to determine the best indexes of thermal comfort for buffaloes and to estimate the upper critical levels of these indexes, based on the physiologic parameters. The experiment was carried from february to april at agreste region of the Pernambuco state. Physiologic parameters as rectal temperature (Tr), breathing frequency (Fr) and skin temperature (Tp) were measured thrice to every week in the periods of the morning and afternoon. Sweating rate (Tsud) was measured in the afternoon, once to every week. Correlation and regression analysis were made using data obtained from ten buffaloes: five heifers and five pregnant buffaloes cows. The results showed that Fr was better than rectal temperature (Tr) and sweating rate (Tsud) as an indicator of heat stress for pregnant bufalloes cows. ITGU was better than ITU, based on Fr. Based on Tr the estimated upper critical levels of temperature-humidity index (ITU) and black globe temperature and humidity index (ITGU) were 79,5 and 89,1, respectively, for the heifers and based on breathing frequency those estimated critical levels were, respectively, 77 and 83. Based on Fr the estimated critical values of ITU and ITGU were 79 and 81, respectively, for the pregnant buffaloes cows.