Rivera-Collazo, Gerardo I.

Profile Picture

Filters

20111
Reset filters

Settings

Citations

Publication Search Results

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    Publication
    Cambios en la temperatura vaginal asociados a la actividad física, al estrés por calor y a la humedad en vacas lecheras
    (2011) Rivera-Collazo, Gerardo I.; Fernández-Van Cleve, John; College of Agricultural Sciences; Jiménez Cabán, Dr. Esbal; Arcelay Ruiz, Dra. Enid; Latorre, Dr.José R.; Department of Animal Science; Dr. Jaime, Ramírez Vick
    Heat stress greatly affects the dairy industry especially when the facilities are established in tropical and subtropical environments. The poor design of cattle facilities could provoke that animals have to walk long distances for daily management and thus increase the internal temperature of cows that are already under the effect of heat stress. This is especially important in pregnant cows that carry more weight and have additional metabolic requirements. This study was designed as a 2 x 2 factorial (level exercise X reproductive state) with two switchback repetitions of 12 Holstein cows. Pregnant and no pregnant cows were either exercised or not exercised for 18 days walking an approximate distance of 3.11 km / day. There was no significant effect of exercise (P = 0.2773) on the cow’s internal temperature but the effect of exercise was related to several significant interactions with environmental factors. Highly significant differences were found between levels of treatment as cows that were exposed to long walks had lesser and more stable internal temperatures whereas bigger increases in temperature were related to the environmental temperature and humidity index (THI). On the other hand, there was a highly significant effect of reproductive state (P = 0.002). Even though there were no significant differences between pregnant or not pregnant when using THI as covariant, the results suggest a positive effect of cow walking and pregnancy on vaginal temperature. Therefore it would be apparent that the design of dairy facilities that expose the animals to long walks does not have an adverse effect on the animal, and it can even be beneficial from the point of view of animal welfare.