Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 10
Effects of Ambient Temperature on Calf Welfare
Parameters During Long-Road Transportation
D. Bernardini, G. Gerardi, D. Degani, C. Guglielmini, and S. Segato
7 and 30
C), it
was asserted that calves' physical regulatory system of temperature homeostasis
regularly works, particularly under ambient winter conditions. In summer, only
ambient temperatures near 31
C could lead to reduced operation of the thermoreg-
ulatory center with the presence of clinical signs. This finding is strengthened by the
correlation between ambient and rectal
Abstract In the tested ambient temperature range (i.e., between
temperatures (
R
2
0.001);
rectal temperature appears to remain constant within an ambient temperature
range between 8
C and 28
C. Furthermore, ambient temperatures lower than
¼
0.57;
P
<
7
C cause a slight reduction in body temperature, while values higher than
29
C result in a more than proportional physical temperature increase, which are
better interpolated using a polynomial equation.
Keywords Animal welfare Calves Ethology Transportation
Abbreviations
AT, RT, and ST Ambient, rectal, and subcutaneous temperatures
BW
Body weight
HR
Heart rate
D. Bernardini (
*
) G. Gerardi D. Degani C. Guglielmini
Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche Veterinarie, University of Padova, Legnaro, Italy
e-mail:
daniele.bernardini@unipd.it
S. Segato
Dipartimento di Scienze Animali, University of Padova, Legnaro, Italy
