Comparative assessment of heat and cold stress-induced changes in clinical parameters in Boer goats

Abstract

This study was carried out on heat- and cold-adapted boar goats kept in their natural habitat to examine the physiological parameters and their seasonal fluctuations in relation to the adaptation to heat stress in boar goats. The study was conducted in two distinct stages that corresponded with the winter and summer seasons. Under the experiment, twelve experimental boar goats of both sexes were chosen at randomly. The goats were 1.5 to 2 years old and weighed between 16 to 22 kg. The temperature-humidity index (THI) was calculated by recording the daily temperature of the surrounding air and relative humidity using a digital hygrometer and thermometer that were placed in the animal shed. In this study, Heart rate (HR), respiration rate (RR), and rectal temperature (RT) were combined to determine physiological markers for thermal stress susceptibility. The temperature-humidity index (THI) was calculated by observing the daily ambient temperature and relative humidity. The THI value of summer and winter season were 31.67 and 15.34, respectively. The findings of this study revealed that the levels of physiological responses, such as rectal temperature, respiration rate, and heart rate, were significantly (p 0.05) differed throughout seasons (summer and winter) and recording periods. It has been discovered that THI, a sensitive indicator of both heat and cold stress, is more affected by ambient temperature in boar goats than relative humidity. Therefore, in Boar goats, heat and cold stress is related to certain physiological effects.