<i>Bos indicus</i> cattle can maintain feed intake and fatreserves in response to heat stress better than<i>Bos taurus</i> cattle

Abstract

Bos indicus cattle are better adapted to tropical conditions than Bos taurus breeds and in part this may be related to differences in lipid and carbohydrate metabolism during heat stress. Bos indicus and Bos taurus cattle were subjected to heat stress and blood samples obtained to measure metabolism. Heat stress decreased feed intake and increased plasma non-esterifi ed fatty acids (NEFA) in Bos taurus but not in Bos indicus cattle. Also, Bos indicus appear to be more insulin resistant than Bos taurus cattle and this may explain some of the differences between breeds.