CARACTERÍSTICAS DE TERMORREGULAÇÃO EM VACAS LEITEIRAS EM AMBIENTE TROPICAL: REVISÃO

Since predominant high temperatures could alter thermic equilibrium, the knowledge of dairy cattle thermoregulation characteristics on tropical environment is very important. The higher energy consume to maintain homeothermy could damage production and reproduction. Therefore, this revision aimed to analyze some thermoregulatory characteristics and fur of dairy cattle housed in tropical environment. The maximum and minimum values of rectal temperature found was 41.14°C (½ Gir ½ Holstein) and 37.09°C (lactating cows in the morning), breathing rate of 137.12mov/min (½ Gir ½ Holstein) and 22mov.min-1 (Holstein and Girolanda), sweating rate of 239.42g.m-2 .h-1 (½ Gir ½ Holstein) and 90.5g.m-2 .h-1 (¾ Holstein Zebu), surface temperature of 44.0°C (Holstein at 12 hours) and 22.0°C (½ Gir ½ Holstein, at 6am), hair coat thickness of 5.31mm ( ½ Gir ½ Holstein) and 1.93mm (Holstein), length of hair coat of 16.11mm (Holstein) and 8.08mm (Caracu Caldeano). The rectal temperature and breathing rate of dairy cattle raised on tropical environment could be altered by intrinsic and extrinsic factors. The hair coat thickness and length are lower on summer and spring compared with fall and winter.