Physiological and behavioral indicators of water buffaloes with access to heat mitigation resources in a grazing system during the hot season in the subtropics

IF 2.2 2区农林科学 Q1 AGRICULTURE, DAIRY & ANIMAL SCIENCE

Applied Animal Behaviour Science Pub Date : 2024-10-05 DOI:10.1016/j.applanim.2024.106409

Cindy Anne Klausberger Ximenes, Arthur Fernandes Bettencourt, Bruna Schmitz, Delane Ribas da Rosa, Juliany Ardenghi Guimarães, Betina da Cunha Borges, Caren Paludo Ghedini, Vivian Fischer

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Water buffaloes are increasingly being raised in similar way to dairy cows, in grazing systems frequently deprived of shade and water for immersion. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different heat mitigation resources, 1) only shade and 2) shade plus water for immersion, on the behavioral repertoire and physiological characteristics of female grazing buffaloes in the subtropics during the hot season. Twenty buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis), including calves, heifers and non-lactating cows were allocated throughout the hot season (from December 2021 to April 2022) in a grazing system with two different heat mitigation resources (treatments): only shade (SH) and shade plus water for immersion (SHW). Diurnal behavioral repertoire was recorded every 15 days, individually and focally, at every 5 minutes for 12 hours per day. Heart rate (HR; beats/min), respiration rate (RR; breaths/min), rectal temperature (RT; °C) and panting score were also measured. Buffaloes reduced grazing time especially with THI above 75. Buffaloes at SHW spent more time grazing and lying than SH buffaloes (P < 0.05). Cows and heifers had higher ruminating (P < 0.05) and standing time (P < 0.05) compared with calves. Physiological variables did not differ (P > 0.05) between treatments (SH vs. SHW) and were positively correlated with air temperature and THI (P < 0.05). HR was higher for heifers (59.6) and calves (63.5) than for cows (53.3; P < 0.05). RT tended to be higher for heifers (38.4) and calves (38.3) than for cows (38.1; 0.05 < P < 0.10). However, respiration rate did not differ across buffalo categories (P > 0.05). Panting behavior was not reported throughout the observation days (panting score = 0). When both heat mitigation resources, shade and water for immersion were available, buffaloes preferred water for immersion to mitigate the effects of heat stress. Regardless animal category, buffaloes were able to maintain physiological variables within the normal range, indicating that providing shade and/or water for immersion, as environmental enrichment resources for thermoregulation, is suitable for heat stress mitigation in water buffaloes throughout the hot season in the subtropics.

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在亚热带炎热季节的放牧系统中，可获得热量缓解资源的水牛的生理和行为指标

水牛越来越多地采用与奶牛类似的方式饲养，放牧系统经常缺少遮荫和浸泡用水。本研究旨在评估不同的防暑降温资源（1）仅遮荫和（2）遮荫加浸水对亚热带地区雌性放牧水牛在炎热季节的行为和生理特征的影响。在整个炎热季节（2021 年 12 月至 2022 年 4 月），20 头水牛（包括犊牛、小母牛和非哺乳母牛）被分配到一个放牧系统中，该系统有两种不同的热缓解资源（处理）：仅遮荫（SH）和遮荫加浸水（SHW）。每隔 15 天记录一次昼夜行为，每天 12 小时，每 5 分钟记录一次。此外，还测量了心率（HR；次/分）、呼吸频率（RR；次/分）、直肠温度（RT；℃）和喘气评分。水牛减少了放牧时间，尤其是在 THI 超过 75 时。与SH水牛相比，SHW水牛吃草和躺卧的时间更长（P < 0.05）。与小牛相比，母牛和小牛的反刍时间（P < 0.05）和站立时间（P < 0.05）更长。不同处理（SH 与 SHW）之间的生理变量没有差异（P > 0.05），但与气温和 THI 呈正相关（P < 0.05）。母牛（59.6）和犊牛（63.5）的 HR 高于母牛（53.3；P < 0.05）。小母牛（38.4）和犊牛（38.3）的 RT 往往高于母牛（38.1；0.05；P <；0.10）。不过，不同类别水牛的呼吸速率并无差异（P >0.05）。在整个观察日期间，水牛都没有气喘行为（气喘评分 = 0）。在有阴凉处和浸泡水这两种防暑降温资源的情况下，水牛更愿意选择浸泡水，以减轻热应激的影响。无论动物类别如何，水牛都能将生理变量维持在正常范围内，这表明在亚热带地区的整个炎热季节，提供遮荫和/或浸泡用水作为体温调节的丰富环境资源，适用于缓解水牛的热应激。

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来源期刊

Applied Animal Behaviour Science 农林科学-行为科学

CiteScore

4.40

自引率

21.70%

发文量

191

审稿时长

18.1 weeks

期刊介绍： This journal publishes relevant information on the behaviour of domesticated and utilized animals. Topics covered include: -Behaviour of farm, zoo and laboratory animals in relation to animal management and welfare -Behaviour of companion animals in relation to behavioural problems, for example, in relation to the training of dogs for different purposes, in relation to behavioural problems -Studies of the behaviour of wild animals when these studies are relevant from an applied perspective, for example in relation to wildlife management, pest management or nature conservation -Methodological studies within relevant fields The principal subjects are farm, companion and laboratory animals, including, of course, poultry. The journal also deals with the following animal subjects: -Those involved in any farming system, e.g. deer, rabbits and fur-bearing animals -Those in ANY form of confinement, e.g. zoos, safari parks and other forms of display -Feral animals, and any animal species which impinge on farming operations, e.g. as causes of loss or damage -Species used for hunting, recreation etc. may also be considered as acceptable subjects in some instances -Laboratory animals, if the material relates to their behavioural requirements