Full text in pdf format

Effects of environment and heredity on the rectal temperature of pitangueiras cattle

Alvaro de Matos Lemos^I; Raysildo Barbosa Lôbo^II

^ICNP - Gado de Leite, EMBRAPA, 36155 Coronel Pacheco, MG, Brasil. Send correspondence to A.M.L.
^IIDepartamento de Genética, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, USP, 14049 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil

ABSTRACT

Objectives of the present study were to evaluate effects of environment and heredity on rectal temperatures of Pitangueiras cattle. Data were obtained from breeding files of the Três Barras Farm, located in the municipality of Pitangueiras, State of São Paulo, Brazil. Heat tolerance traits studied were: initial rectal temperature (IRT), final rectal temperature (FRT) and rectal temperature increase (RTI). Overall means and coefficients of variation for traits measured were 38.43°C and 1.0% for IRT, and 39.21°C and 1.1% for FRT, respectively. Time when temperature was taken had a significant effect on both IRT and FRT. FRT also was varied according to year when temperature was taken and coat color. Heritability estimated by paternal half-sib correlations in six different samples ranged from 0.15 ± 0.09 to 0.27 ± 0.12 for IRT, 0.17 ± 0.10 to 0.31 ± 0.13 for FRT, and 0.16 ± 0.16 to 0.27 ± 0.11 for RTI. Results indicated that greater accuracy could be obtained in selecting Pitangueiras cattle for heat tolerance by using a progeny test with seven or more daughters per sire.

Keywords: Rectal temperature; Pitangueiras cattle.

REFERENCES

Briquet, Jr., R. (1967). Melhoramento genético animal. São Paulo, Edusp, 269 p.

Brody, S. (1948). Environment physiology and shelter engineering with special reference to domestic animal - I - Physiological background, Columbia, Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station, Research Bulletin. 423.

Brody, S., Ragsdale, A.C., Thompson, H.J. and Worstell, D.M. (1954). Environmental physiology and shelter engineering with special reference to domestic animals. XXVII - The thermal effects of radiation intensity (light) on milk production, feed and water consumption, and body weight in Holstein, Jersey and Brahman cows at air temperature 45.70 and 80°F. Columbia, Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station, Research Bulletin 556.

Cardoso, RM., Falco, J.E., Silva, M.A. and Garcia, J.A. (1983). Reações fisiológicas de vacas leiteiras mantidas a sombra, ao sol e em ambiente parcialmente sombrado. Rev. Soc. Bras. Zoot. 12: 458-467.

Cartwright, T.C. (1955). Responses of beef cattle to high ambient temperatures. J. Anim. Sci. 14: 350-362.

Chan, I.I. (1974). Heat resistance and selection of dairy cattle in Tajakistan. Otdel. Biol. Nauh. 56: 89-92.

Donegan, S.M. and Franklin, I.R. (1979). The relationship between hot room performance and production in AMZ cattle. In: Australian Association Animal Breeding Genetics, Armidale, Proceedings. Armidale, University of New England, 1979, p. 56-58.

Dowling, D.F. (1956). An experimental study of heat tolerance of cattle. Aust. J. Agric. Res. 7: 469-481. Dukes, H.H. (1973). Fisiologia de los animales domesticos. Madri, Ed. aguilar, 962p.

Falco, J.E. (1979). Reações de vacas leiteiras mantidas à sombra, ao sol e em ambiente parcialmente sombreado. Masters Thesis. Viçosa, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 69p.

Hafez, E.S.E. (1973). Adaptación de los animales domesticos. Barcelona, Ed. Labor, 563p.

Harvey, W.R. (1977). User's guide for LSML 76: mixed model least squares and maximum likelihood computer program. Ohio State University, 76p.

Kibler, H.H. and Brody, S. (1953). Environmental physiology and shelter engineering with special reference to domestic animals. XXII -Influence of humidity on heat exchange and body temperature reagulation in Jersey, Holstein, Brahman and Brown Swiss cattle.

Legates, J.E. (1953). Studies on heat tolerance. In: Committee Conference, Tifton. Report of North Carolina Project to Regional Tech. Apud: Silva, R.G. (1973). Estudos básicos para a seleção de gado de corte para as regiões tropicais visando ganho e peso e resistência ao calor. Masters Thesis, Ribeirão Preto, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto-USP, 95p.

Lemos, AM., Lôbo, R.B., Mortari, N. and Duarte, F.A.M. (1990). Biochemical blood polymorphisms in Pitangueiras cattle and their effects on reproductive, productive and heat tolerance traits. Rev. Bras. Genet. 13: 293-303.

McDowell, R.E. (1967). Papel da fisiologia na produção animal para as áreas tropical e subtropical. Rev. zoot. 5: 26-37.

McDowell, R.E. (1972). Improvement of livestock production in warm climates. São Francisco, Freeman and Company, 711p.

Okamoto, S., Koga, O., Goto, I., Matsuo, T. and Ogawa, K. (1963). Statistical studies on the inheritance of heat tolerance in dairy cows. III - Heritability estimates for body reactions to the air temperature of summer in Kyushu. Fac. Agric. Kyushu, 0.205-209. Research Bulletin 20.

Oliveira, J.S. (1978). Comportamento de novilhas de três graus de sangue, expostas ao sol e à sombra, em Viçosa, M.G. Masters Thesis. Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa.

Phillips, B.W. (1955). La cria de ganado en ambientes desfavorables. Roma, FAO, 189p.

Riemerschmid, G. and Elder, J.S. (1945). The absorptivity for solar radiation of different coloured hairy coats of cattle. J. Vet. Sci. Anim. Ind. 20: 223-234.

Road, A.O. (1940). A method of assaying genetic differences in the adaptability of cattle to tropical and subtropical climates. Emp. J. Exp. Agr. 8: 190-198.

Seath, D.M. (1947). Heritability of heat tolerance in dairy cattle. J. Dairy Sci. 30: 137-144.

Sethi, RK. and Nagarcenkar, R (1981). Inheritance of heat tolerance in buffaloes. Indian J. Anim. Sci. 51: 591-595.

Shrode, R.R., Quazi, F.R., Rupel, I.W. and Leighton, R.E. (1960). Variation in rectal temperature, respiration rate, and pulse of cattle as related to variation in four environmental variables. J. Daisy Sci. 43: 1235-1244.

Silva, R.G. (1973). Estudos básicos para a seleção de gado de corte para as regiões tropicais visando ganho de peso e resistência ao calor. Masters Thesis, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto - USP, Ribeirão Preto.

Taneja, G.C. (1966). Heritability and repeatability of rectal temperature in Hariana cattle. Indian Vet. J. 43: 976-981.

Turner, H.G. (1982). Genetic variation of rectal temperature in cows and its relationship to fertility.Anim. Prod. 35: 401-412.

Turner, H.G. (1984). Variation in rectal temperature of cattle in a tropical environmental and its relation to grown rate. Anim. Prod. 38: 417-427.