Effort and Recovery in Nellore Oxen during Vaquejada Assessed with Ocular and Tail Infrared Thermography Superficial Temperature

Infrared thermography (IRT) has emerged for evaluation of animal welfare. To test the hypothesis that cattle subjected to vaquejada increased temperature in the eye (CLO) and tail due to physical effort, a research was developed that aimed to measure maximum surface temperature in the CLO and base of tail using IRT. Eighty Nellore cattle were used, which were subjected to physical effort in three periods (morning, afternoon and night). IRT was performed at CLO and base of tail, in rest pen/corral (control) and during the vaquejada (pre- and post-run). Tails’ analysis was divided in 3 points (E1, E2 and E3). ANOVA and Tukey’s test (p < 0.001) were used for analysis. Temperatures were higher in morning and afternoon and different from those at night on control (p < 0.001). During vaquejada with one run, CLO was higher in pre-run, followed by a slight reduction in post-run (p < 0.001). Analyzing temperatures variations at tail, higher temperatures were observed in the morning, followed by the evening and night (p < 0.001), but without differences within the pre- and post-run periods. Temperatures at tail’s points were higher in morning period in cattle with two runs (p < 0.001). Finally, it was concluded that there were no increases in CLO or at tail’s points after vaquejada races. The IRT method was efficient in determining surface temperatures in CLO and tail points in cattle under the same conditions and may be a good noninvasive method for clinical and welfare assessments.