Effect of water misting, shadow and imersion bath in termorregulatory capacity and weight gain of buffalous.

• Grant number: 09/07698-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2009
• End date: August 31, 2010
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agricultural Engineering - Rural Buildings and Ambience
• Principal Investigator: Nelcio Antonio Tonizza de Carvalho
• Grantee: Danielle Priscila Bueno Fernandes
• Host Institution: Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Registro. Registro , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The climate characteristics of Vale do Ribeira contribute to harm the thermal comfort conditions for the buffaloes production, especially in the warmer seasons of the year. Studies in thermal comfort can optimize the production and generate more income for small farmers in the region with simple changes in management. Buffaloes production is an activity that has gained more space in the Brazilian beef cattle, mainly due to its good adaptability to the tropics and the most diverse conditions of handling and feeding. The study of the interference of environmental variables on the physiology of the buffalo is essential to increase production. Unlike cattle, the buffaloes producers had not experienced both breeding and improvement in its production is directly related to improvements to the way in which they live as nutrition, management and adaptation. There is a large gap to be filled in studies with buffalo. There is a tendency to apply the same treatment given to cattle to buffalo, which demonstrates the lack of knowledge about these animals, since they are another specie, and should receive another type of management and care. The scientific research, plus practical experience of farmers can provide a protocol for buffaloes management. Researchs about environment may contribute to increased production of meat and milk. Thus, this project aims to study the thermoregulatory capacity of buffalo calves with access to shade, water immersion and water sprinkling, and a control group under the sun. Four animals will be used for each treatment and evaluate the weight gain and thermoregulatory response. Environmental variables (atmospheric pressure, dry bulb temperature, relative humidity and black globe temperature) and physiological variables (skin mean temperature, respiratory rate and weight gain) will be collected.