Changes in body temperature, respiration, heart rate and certain serum biochemical parameters of sheep during summer heat stress in Jiroft

Authors

1 Department of Animal Sciences, Agriculture Faculty, University of Jiroft, Member of Research Group of Livestock Production in Hot Regions, Jiroft-Iran

2 Department of Obstetric and Gynecology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman-Iran

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Sheep are a form of investment and a quickly liquidatable resource, particularly in traditional and low income production systems. Tropical and long warm-season regions always affect sheep production negatively. Methods: In this experiment 15 female and 7 male sheep were chosen and their body temperature, heart rate, respiration rate measurements and blood sample for biochemical parameters analysis were taken during May 5 to September 5. Results: Heart rate and respiration rate in male sheep were a little higher compared with female sheep but there was no significant difference between them respiration (56 vs. 55) and beat (120 vs. 118 per min). Rectal temperature wasn’t significant between two sexes (40.6-40.09 C˚). Also skin temperature wasn’t significantly different between two sexes (36.02- 36.08 C˚). The only difference was related to month effect (p<0.05). Sex and month hadn’t significant different effects on blood urea, creatinine, glucose and potassium concentration. Blood urea concentration of female sheep was not significantly higher than male’s (p>0.05). Blood Sodium concentration was significantly different between two sexes so that male sheep had the highest minimum average (p<0.05). There was no significant increase in blood Potassium concentration of female sheep compared to male sheep (p>0.05). ConclusionS: These results indicated that sheep of this region had been well adapted to summer heat stress and they showed usual changes of blood metabolites in response to heat stress.

Keywords

References

Al-Tamimi, H.J. (2007) Thermoregulatory response of goat kids subjected to heat stress. Small Rumin Res 71: 280-285.
Alamer, M. (2009)  Effect of water restriction on lactation performance of Aardi goats under heat stress conditions. Small Rumin Res. 84: 76-81.
Bickhardt, K., Düngelhoef, R. (1994) Clinical studies of kidney function in sheep. I. Methods and reference values of healthy animals. DTW. Dtsch Tierarztl Wochenschr. 101: 463.
Can, A. Denek, N., Yazgan, K. (2005) Effect of replacing urea with fish meal in finishing diet on performance of Awassi lamb under heat stress. Small Rumin Res. 59: 1-5.
Chaiyabutr, N., Komolvanich, S., Sawangkoon, S., Chanpongsang, S. (1997)  Alterations in potassium homeostasis during heat stress in swamp buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis). J Therm Biol. 22: 207-212.
Darcan, N., Güney, O. (2008)  Alleviation of climatic stress of dairy goats in Mediterranean climate. Small Rumin Res. 74: 212-215.
Denek, N., Can, A., Tufenk, S., Yazgan, K., Ipek, H., Iriadam, M. (2006) The effect of heat load on nutrient utilization and blood parameters of Awassi ram lambs fed different types and levels of forages. Small Rumin Res. 63: 156-161.
Ganong, W.F., Barrett, K.E. (2005) Review of Medical Physiology. McGraw-Hill Medical Publication. New York, USA.
Jaber, L.S., Habre, A., Rawda, N.,  Abi Said, M., Barbour, E.K., Hamadeh, S. (2004) The effect of water restriction on certain physiological parameters in Awassi sheep. Small Rumin Res. 54: 115-120.
Littell, R., Henry, P., Ammerman, C. (1998) Statistical analysis of repeated measures data using SAS procedures. J Anim Sci. 76: 1216-1231.
MacÃas-Cruz, U.F., Ãlvarez-Valenzuela, D., Correa-CalderÃn, A., DÃ az-Molina, R., DÃ az-Molina, M.,  Mellado Meza-Herrera, C., AvendaÃo-Reyes, L. (2013) Thermoregulation of nutrient-restricted hair ewes subjected to heat stress during late pregnancy. J Therm Biol. 38: 1-9.
Marai, I.F.M.,  El-Darawany, A.A., Fadiel, A., Abdel-Hafez, M.A.M. (2007) Physiological traits as affected by heat stress in sheep—A review. Small Rumin Res. 71: 1-12.
Rasooli, A., Taha Jalali, M., Nouri, M., Mohammadian, B., Barati, F. (2010)  Effects of chronic heat stress on testicular structures, serum testosterone and cortisol concentrations in developing lambs. Anim Reprod Sci. 117: 55-59.
Sevi, A., Caroprese, M. (2012) Impact of heat stress on milk production, immunity and udder health in sheep: A critical review. Small Rumin Res. 107: 1-7.
Shehab-El-Deen, M.A.M.M.,  Leroy, J.L.M.R.,  Fadel, M.S., Saleh, S.Y.A., Maes, D., Van Soom, A. (2010) Biochemical changes in the follicular fluid of the dominant follicle of high producing dairy cows exposed to heat stress early post-partum. Anim Reprod Sci. 117: 189-200.
Srikandakumar, A., Johnson, E.H., Mahgoub, O. (2003) Effect of heat stress on respiratory rate, rectal temperature and blood chemistry in Omani and Australian Merino sheep. Small Rumin Res. 49: 193-198.
Williams, C.C., Calmes, K.J., Fernandez, J.M., Stanley, C.C.,  Lovejoy, J.C.,  Bateman Ii, H.G., Gentry, L.R., Gantt, D.T., Harding, G.D. (2004)Glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity in Gulf Coast Native and Suffolk ewes during late gestation and early lactation. Small Rumin Res. 54:167-171.
Journal of Veterinary Research
Volume 70, Issue 3 - Serial Number 3
September 2015
Pages 333-339

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics