EFEITO DO AMBIENTE SOBRE AS RESPOSTAS FISOLÓGICAS E TEMPERATURA CORPORAL DE CAPRINOS LEITEIROS ALIMENTADOS COM DIETAS CONTENDO QUIRERA DE ARROZ EM SUBSTITUIÇÃO AO MILHO

Abstract

The animal production in the tropics is limited mainly by thermal stress, and there is an aggravating factor that the breeds selected for the highest production, in general, come from temperate countries, which does not allow them to express their maximum productive capacity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the environment on physiological responses and surface temperature and body regions of dairy goats in the eastern region of Maranhão. The experiment was conducted in the goat sector of the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Maranhão Campus Caxias. The physiological parameters evaluated were: rectal temperature (RT), respiratory rate (RR), heart rate (HR) and surface temperature (TS) and temperatures in different body regions of the animals. The physiological evaluations were performed from records, in two daily measurements, at 9 and 15h, three times a week, in alternating periods according to the 4 x 4 (double) experimental design with four replications. Data were subjected to analysis of variance and averages were compared by Tukey at 5% probability using SAS software. Physiological parameters were not affected by diets and collection times (P>0.05). The highest surface and body temperature of the animals were observed during the afternoon shift compared to the morning shift (P<0.05). The replacement of corn by rice crop does not alter the physiological responses and surface temperatures and body regions of dairy goats. The surface and body temperature of dairy goats rises in the afternoon collection periods..