Physiological adaptation indicators of three Colombian Creole cattle breeds

Abstract

The present study aimed to determine the physiological response and its relationship with the caloric impact (stress) index of three breeds of Colombian Creole cattle (Hartón del Valle, Blanco Orejinegro y Sanmartinero). These breeds have been considered adapted to low-tropical conditions and important to the sustainable meat and milk production in Colombia. To determine two heat tolerance indexes and two hormones and their relationship to the physiological response to heat stress in three Colombian Creole cattle breeds, Pearson’s correlation methodology and mean comparison study were used. The adaptability indexes such as temperature-humidity index (ITH) and heat load index (HLI) and cortisol and T3 hormones were estimated and subsequently, the indexes were correlated with the hormones using the Pearson methodology, also the mean comparison study was used. Physiological variables were analyzed such as heart rate, respiratory rate, rumen patterns, and rectal temperature; during the study, serum concentrations of cortisol and triiodothyronine hormones were detected in seven different instances during the rainy season in the Piedemonte Llanero. ITH and HLI were used as indicators of thermal compensation. The HLI appeared to be a better indicator when the environmental conditions included wind speed and solar radiation. No variations were found between the breeds (P≥0.05), while the measurement periods did show variations (P≤0.05). It may conclude that the HLI provides better information to study physiological parameters and it may confirm that the animals are considered adapted to the conditions of the local environment.