Physiological and behavioural responses of Swedish domestic goats and their kids (Capra hircus) to 15 days of heat exposure

Abstract

Seven Swedish domestic goats (Capra hircus, 2-3 years) and their kids (37 ± 4 days) were subjected to indoor temperatures above 30°C during 15 days (periods H1-H4; periods without heat C1, C2) to study acclimation. Rectal temperature (RT) increased by 1.1°C during H1 to H3 (P < 0.001 vs. C1), but only by 0.6°C during H4 (P < 0.001 vs. C1; P < 0.024 vs. H1). Respiration rate (RR) increased less during H4 than during H1 (P < 0.001). Skin temperature increased during heat (P < 0.001), and skin evaporation (SE), which differed from C1 to H4 (P < 0.05). Goats increased water intake during heat, resulting in lowered milk osmolality while milk offtake was maintained. Kids' thermoregulatory responses resembled those of the goats. Thus, decreasing RT and RR simultaneously with increasing SE at the end of the heat indicate that goats had started to acclimate.

Heat tolerance of goats to increased daily maximum temperature and low salinity of drinking water in tropical humid regions

“…The longer time spent lying during the hot conditions might be an adaptive behavior to reduce additional heat production from body movements, and this corresponded to the decrease in change position frequency. The longer lying time during heat stress was also reported in goats [26,38,39] and sheep [40], but another study in goats [41] found that lying time was lowered during heat stress. In addition, Salama et al [26] reported that changing the position increased under heat stress, reflecting goats' uncomfortable behavior.…”