Vol. 8, Issue 8 (2019)

Author(s):
Sruthi S, Manju Sasidharan, Anil KS, Harikumar S and Shibu Simon

Abstract:
A study was conducted to compare the effect of automated intermittent wetting and forced ventilation on the physiological parameters of Murrah buffaloes in humid tropics. Twelve lactating Murrah buffaloes were randomly selected from University Livestock Farm and Fodder Research Development Scheme, Mannuthy and grouped into two treatments with six animals each namely, T1 as control, T2 was provided with automated wetting and forced ventilation and were studied under two seasons with different THIs (low – 76.93 ± 0.53 and high – 82.55 ± 0.35). The mean rectal temperature (°F) was 102.04 ± 0.02 and 100.89 ± 0.02 in T1 and T2 respectively during high THI season. The mean pulse rate (beats per minute) was 57.92 and 55.23 ± 0.15 in T1 and T2 respectively during high THI season. The mean respiratory rate (breaths per minute) was 17.92 ± 0.15 and 15.28 ± 0.15 in T1 and T2 respectively during high THI season. The respiratory rate, pulse rate and rectal temperature were found to be significantly lower in T2 when compared to control group in both the seasons. Even though there was no significant difference, a substantial increase in milk yield was found in T2 when compared to control group in both the seasons. It may be concluded that animals in T2 experienced relatively mild heat stress compared to control group which was evident by the lower values in physiological parameters and a relatively higher milk yield. So, it could be suggested that in tropical humid climate, automated wetting and forced ventilation with respect to the relative humidity may be preferred when compared to the other thermal stress alleviating measures.