Assessing Heat Stress in Cattle Based on Analysis of Meteorological Factors
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Assessing Heat Stress in Cattle Based on Analysis of Meteorological Factors E. O. Krupin* Tatar Research Institute of Agriculture, Federal Research Center, Kazan Science Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Kazan, Republic of Tatarstan, 420059 Russia *e-mail: [email protected] Received February 5, 2019; revised February 25, 2020; accepted February 28, 2020
Abstract—The objective of the survey is to assess the regional variation in climate change and the associated level of animals' susceptibility to heat-stress. The air temperature and humidity datasets measured for 1996– 2015 at meteorological station nos. 27595, 28506, and 28704 in the Republic of Tatarstan are used. The temperature-humidity index (THI) is estimated according to J. West (1994). The levels of heat stress are classified according to LPHSI (1990). The results show a relative uniformity of air temperature distribution in spring and autumn seasons (5.30 ± 0.21°C and 5.36 ± 0.18°C, respectively). The average 1996 winter temperature tended to be 0.41°C higher than that in winter 2010. Winter 2015 appeared warmest; the average temperature comprised –7.13°C. The average 1996 summer temperature comprised 18.48°C, which was 0.32°C lower than the long-term average. The average summer temperature for 2015 was 0.50°C lower than the long-term average. It was ascertained based on the calculated THI values that the cattle were free from heat stress in 64.02% of cases in the summer season, while the other animals were susceptible to heat stress at different levels in 35.98% of cases. In addition, some specimens were most susceptible to heat stress (24.62%). It is indicated that the temperature factor has a greater influence on the THI values (r = 0.995 (p < 0.01) and R2 = 0.9899). Keywords: climate, heat stress, cattle, temperature-humidity index DOI: 10.3103/S1068367420040102
INTRODUCTION Current climate change can significantly affect the animal and plant industries. The crude protein contents of feeds tend to be lower with increasing the air temperature and decreasing the amount of precipitation. This requires providing the animals with some additional high-protein feed products. The total value for these expenditures in the United States usually comprises 1.9 billion per year. In addition, the rates for improvement of adaptive capacity of animals with the use of traditional methods of selection are much slower than the rates of climate change [1–3]. Still, even in case of a properly balanced feed ration, it is difficult to assess its effect on productivity since the environmental temperature rise usually causes some declines in feed intake and its digestibility. In addition, the time taken for feed passing through the digestive system under the heat stress effect may increase [4]. The effects of climatic factors on cattle will largely depend on the region of rearing and the level of productivity [5]. Animal response to the stress is usually followed by decrease in the rates of growth and development and reduction in the milk yields. The annual amount
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