Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-8ctnn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T19:34:37.421Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Effects of air temperature on body temperatures and sensible heat loss of Friesian and Jersey calves at 12 and 76 days of age

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

C. W. Holmes
C. W. Holmes
Affiliation:
Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
Get access

Summary

1. Measurements have been made of sensible heat flow, body temperature and some hair coat characteristics, at 10 different air temperatures, on each of 24 Friesian and Jersey calves aged 12 and 76 days.

2. Minimum values for thermal conductance of the trunk tissues were 29·5 and 37·3 kcal/m2.hr per °C for the 12-day-old Friesian and Jersey calves respectively; corresponding values for the 76-day-old calves were 22·5 and 19·9 kcal/m2.hr per °C.

3. Weight of hair per m2 surface area was greater for Friesian calves and for younger calves; Friesian calves had longer hair and deeper coats. Coat depth increased at low temperatures in all calves.

4. The air temperatures at which the ears became vasoconstricted were 18·8 and 21·8°C for the 12-day-old Friesian and Jersey calves respectively; the corresponding values for the 76-day-old calves were 10·1 and 17·8°C. Vasoconstriction occurred in the back legs at a lower air temperature than in the ears or on the trunk surface.

5. The intake of dry matter as fresh grass was 1·15 kg/day for Friesians and 0·72 kg/day for Jerseys, aged 76 days; the Friesians weighed 74 kg and the Jerseys 59 kg at this age.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 12 , Issue 3 , August 1970 , pp. 493 - 501
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1970

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Berry, I. L. and Shanklin, M. D. 1961. Physical factors affecting insulation of livestock hair coats. Bull. Mo. agric. Expt. Stn, No. 802.Google Scholar
Blaxter, K. L. 1962. The Energy Metabolism of Ruminants, pp. 130, 139. Hutchinson, London.Google Scholar
Burton, A. C. and Edholm, O. G. 1955. Man in a Cold Environment. Arnold, London.Google Scholar
Gonzalez-Jiminez, E. and Blaxter, K. L. 1962. The metabolism and thermal regulation of calves in the first month of life. Br. J. Nutr. 16: 199–212.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ingram, D. L. 1964a. The effect of environmental temperature on heat loss and thermal insulation of the young pig. Res. vet. Sci. 5: 357–364.Google Scholar
Ingram, D. L. 1964b. The effect of environmental temperature on body temperatures, respiratory frequency and pulse rate in the young pig. Res. vet. Sci. 5: 348–353.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Joyce, J. P. and Blaxter, K. L. 1964. The effect of air movement, air temperature and infra-red radiation on the energy requirements of sheep. Br. J. Nutr. 18: 5–27.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Joyce, J. P., Blaxter, K. L. and Park, C. 1966. The effect of natural outdoor environments on the energy requirements of sheep. Res. vet. Sci. 7: 346–359.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lenz, C. P. and Hart, J. S. 1960. The effect of wind and moisture on heat loss through the fur of a new-born Caribou. Can. J. Zool. 38: 679–688.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McClean, J. A. 1963. The regional distribution of cutaneous moisture vaporization in the Ayrshire calf. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 61: 275–280.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Scholander, P. F., Walters, V., Hock, R. and Irving, L. 1950. Body insulation of some Arctic and tropical mammals and birds. Biol. Bull. mar. biol. Lab., Woods Hole. 99: 225–236.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Snedecor, G. W. 1956. Statistical Methods. 5th ed. Iowa State College Press, Ames, la.Google Scholar
Sykes, A. R. and Slee, J. 1969. Cold exposure of Southdown and Welsh mountain sheep. 2. Effects of breed, plane of nutrition and previous acclimatization to cold upon skin temperature, heart rate, shivering and respiration rate. Anim. Prod. 11: 75–89.Google Scholar
Webster, A. J. and Blaxter, K. L. 1966. The thermal regulation of two breeds of sheep exposed to air temperatures below freezing point. Res. vet. Sci. 7: 466–479.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Whittow, G. C. 1962. The significance of extremities of the Ox (Bos taurus) in thermoregulation. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 58: 109–120.CrossRefGoogle Scholar