Assessment of surface temperatures of buffalo bulls (Bubalus bubalis) raised under tropical conditions using infrared thermography ABSTRACTThis paper aimed to evaluate the surface temperatures of buffalo bulls using infrared thermography, considering four distinct anatomical parts over time, and to correlate surface temperatures and thermal comfort indexes. The humid tropical climate (Köppen's Afi) was predominant in the research station where the experiment was performed and the trial lasted from April to August. Ten bulls (n=10) were evaluated every 25 days (morning: 6:00-9:00; afternoon: 12:00-15:00) and the parameters assessed were respiratory rate (RR), rectal temperature (RT), and the thermograms of surface temperature for orbital area (ORB), right flank (RF), left flank (LF) and scrotum (SCR). Climatological data was continuously monitored and the Temperature and Humidity Index (THI) and the Index of Comfort of Benezra (ICB) were calculated. The average values of THI were ≥78, and significant differences between shifts were observed (P<0.05). The ICB ranged from 1.96 to 2.25 and significant differences were observed for shifts and throughout the months (P<0.05). The averages of surface temperatures were RT=38.2±0.5°C, ORB=36.1±0.8°C, LF=33.5±2.5°C, RF=35.4±1.7ºC and SCR=33.3±1.1°C, which exhibited significant differences for shifts and throughout the months (P<0.05). Positive correlations were obtained between THI and ORB (0.72), RF (0.77), LF (0.75) and SCR (0.41) (P<0.0001). The maximum temperature of ORB showed the highest correlation with RT (0.58, P<0.0001). Therefore, the surface temperatures are subject to climatic variations and increase throughout the day, due to the variation in thermal comfort indexes, and the maximum ORB temperature was the parameter most related to rectal temperature. Lastly, the results indicate that IRT may be a useful non-invasive and accurate tool to detect the variations in ORB, LF, RF and SCR temperature in buffalo bulls.Keywords: animal welfare, water buffalo, infrared imaging, core temperature, body surface temperature TR=38,2±0,5ºC, ORB=36,1±0,8ºC, FLd=33,5±2,5ºC, RESUMO O presente trabalho visou avaliar as temperaturas superficiais de diferentes regiões anatômicas de búfalos ao longo do tempo, por meio da termografia infravermelha, e correlacioná-las a índices bioclimatológicos de conforto térmico. O ensaio foi realizado em região de clima tropical úmido (Afi de Köppen), de abril a agosto. Dez touros (n=10) foram avaliados a cada 25 dias (manhã: seis-nove horas; tarde: 12-15h), quanto à frequência respiratória (FR), temperatura retal (TR) e imagens termográficas da órbita ocular (ORB), flanco direito (FLd), flanco esquerdo (FLe) e escroto (ESC). Os dados climatológicos foram ininterruptamente monitorados, e calculados o índice de temperatura e umidade (ITU) e o índice de conforto de Benezra (ICB). O ITU foi ≥78, com diferença entre turnos (P<0,05). Já o ICB variou de 1,96 a 2,25 e apresentou diferenças ao longo dos meses e entre turnos (P<0,05). As temperaturas...

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RESUMO Os sistemas agroflorestais são arranjos de técnicas

Resumo -O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de um sistema silvipastoril no conforto térmico de 20 búfalas Murrah, das quais 10 criadas em piquetes sem sombra (SS) e 10 com sombreamento (CS) de Racosperma mangium, em Belém, PA. Os animais foram alimentados em pasto, com Urochloa humidicola, com acesso livre à água para beber e sal mineral. A cada três dias, foram mensuradas: temperatura do ar (TA), umidade relativa do ar (UR), temperatura de globo negro (TGN), temperatura retal (TR), frequências respiratória (FR) e cardíaca (FC), e a temperatura da superfície corporal (TSC), pela manhã (7h) e à tarde (13h). Os valores de TR, TSC, FR e FC foram maiores à tarde, especialmente no grupo SS. Mais altas no período menos chuvoso, a TR, TSC e FR apresentaram correlação linear positiva com a TA e o índice de temperatura e umidade (ITGU) e negativa com a UR. Tanto na estação mais chuvosa quanto na menos chuvosa, a FC apresentou correlações significativas positivas com a TA e ITGU e negativas com a UR, apenas no período mais chuvoso. A arborização da pastagem é eficiente para melhorar o conforto térmico das búfalas Murrah, principalmente à tarde.Termos para indexação: índice de temperatura e umidade, somreamento, bioclimatologia, Bubalus bubalis, Racosperma mangium, fisiologia. Thermal comfort of female buffaloes in a silvipasture system in the eastern AmazonAbstract -The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of a silvipasture system on the thermal comfort of 20 female buffaloes, from which 10 raised in under nonshaded paddocks (SS) and 10 in paddocks shaded by Racosperma mangium (CS), in Belém county, PA, Brazil. All animals were fed in pastures with Urochloa humidicola, and had free access to drinking water and mineral salt. Every three days, measurements were made for air temperature (TA), relative humidity (UR), black globe temperature (TGN), rectal temperature (TR), respiratory rate (FR), heart rate (FC), and body surface temperature (TSC), in the morning (7 AM) and in the afternoon (1 PM). The values of TR, TSC, RR and FR, mainly for the SS group, were higher in the afternoon. The TR, TSC and FR showed a significant and positive correlation with TA and the temperature and humidity index (ITGU), and a negative correlation with UR. These correlations were higher for the less rainy period. The FR showed significant and positive correlations with TA and ITGU, during both the most and the less rainy seasons, and negative correlations with UR only in the rainy season. The forestation of pasture areas is efficient to increase the thermal comfort for Murrah females, especially in the afternoon.