Publication | Closed Access
Effect of Constant Ambient Temperatures of 10 C and 31 C on Ruminal Responses of Cold Tolerant and Heat Tolerant Cattle
19
Citations
0
References
1972
Year
NutritionLivestock ProductionAgricultural EconomicsEducationCold TolerantFeed UtilizationFeed AdditiveConstant Ambient TemperaturesAnimal FeedPublic HealthAnimal ProductionAnimal PhysiologyAnimal PerformanceTemperature-relative HumidityAnimal NutritionFood QualityRuminal ResponsesAnimal SciencePhysiologyScotch HighlandsFeed IntakeMetabolismScotch Highland
Three Scotch Highland and three Zebu heifers, 18 months of age, were subjected to ambient temperature-relative humidity (RH) treatments, 2 weeks each, of 10 C-50% RH and 31 C-5O% RH. Respiration rates and rectal temperatures increased significantly for both breeds at 31 C, with the increase being much greater for the Scotch Highlands. Total ruminal volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration, mEq/liter, significantly decreased for both breeds at 31 C. This may have been the result of a significant decrease in feed consumption and increase in water consumption for both breeds at the higher temperature. The Scotch Highlands had significantly greater total ruminal VFA concentration than the Zebus at 10 C. At this temperature there was no breed difference in feed consumption, although the Scotch Highlands drank significantly more water. There was no significant difference in total ruminal VFA concentration between the two breeds at 31 C, even though the Scotch Highlands drank significantly more water and consumed significantly less feed than the Zebus at this temperature.