Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of seasonal ambient heat stress (spring vs. summer) on physiological and metabolic variables in hair sheep located in an arid region

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
International Journal of Biometeorology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Twenty Dorper × Pelibuey primiparous ewes were used to evaluate effects of seasonal ambient heat stress (i.e., spring vs. summer) on physiological and metabolic responses under production conditions in an arid region. Ten ewes experiencing summer heat stress (i.e., temperature = 34.8 ± 4.6 °C; THI = 81.6 ± 3.2 units) and 10 under spring thermoneutral conditions (temperature = 24.2 ± 5.4 °C; THI = 68.0 ± 4.8 units) were corralled together to measure rectal temperature, respiratory frequency, and skin temperatures at 0600, 1200, 1800, and 2400 h on four occasions over 40 days. Blood metabolite and electrolyte concentrations were also measured at 0600 and 1800 hours. Data were analyzed with a completely randomized design using repeated measurements in time. Rectal and skin temperatures, as well as respiratory frequency, were higher (P < 0.01) in summer than spring at all measured days. Blood serum glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, and chlorine concentrations were lower (P < 0.01) in summer than spring at 0800 and 1800 hours. In contrast, summer heat stress increased (P < 0.01) blood urea and potassium concentrations at 0800 and 1800 hours. Compared with spring thermoneutral conditions, summer heat stress affected the physiological and metabolic status of hair breed ewes in an arid region, which included blood metabolite and electrolyte adjustments to efficiently cope with summer heat stress.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Al-Haidary AA, Aljumaah RS, Alshaikh MA, Abdoun KA, Samara EM, Okab AB, Alfuraiji MM (2012) Thermoregulatory and physiological responses of Najdi sheep to environmental heat load prevailing in Saudi Arabia. Pak Vet J 32:515–519

    Google Scholar 

  • Alhidary IA, Shini S, Al Jassim RAM, Gaughan JB (2012) Physiological responses of Australian Merino wethers exposed to high heat load. J Anim Sci 90:212–220

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Avendaño-Reyes L (2012). Heat stress management for milk production in arid zones. Milk production—an up-to-date overview of animal nutrition, management and health. Prof. Narongsak Chaiyabutr (Ed.), ISBN: 978–953-51-0765-1, InTech, DOI: 10.5772/51299.

  • Blood DC (2002) Manual de Medicina Veterinaria (9 Ed.). Editorial McGraw-Hill/Interamericana de España. Pp. 1–790.

  • Cain IIIJW, Krausman PR, Rosenstock S, Turner JC (2006) Mechanisms of thermoregulation and water balance in desert ungulates. Wildlife Soc B 34:570–581

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Correa MPC, Cardoso MT, Castanheria M, Landim AV, Dallago BSL, Louvandini H, McManus C (2012) Heat tolerance in three genetic groups of lambs in central Brazil. Small Ruminant Res 104:70–77

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gastelum-Delgado MA, Avendaño-Reyes L, Álvarez-Valenzuela FD, Correa-Calderón A, Meza-Herrera CA, Mellado M, Macías-Cruz U (2015) Conducta estral circanual en ovejas Pelibuey bajo condiciones áridas del noroeste de México. Rev Mex Cienc Pecu 6:109–118

    Google Scholar 

  • González-Bulnes A, Meza-Herrera CA, Rekik M, Ben Salem H, Kridli RT (2011) Limiting factors and strategies for improving reproductive outputs of small ruminants reared in semi-arid environments. In: Degenovine KM (ed) Semi-arid environments: agriculture, water supply and vegetation. Nova Science Publishers, Inc., New York, pp. 41–62

    Google Scholar 

  • Hahn GL (1999) Dynamic responses of cattle to thermal heat loads. J Dairy Sci 82(Suppl. 2):10–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Hales JR, Brown GD (1974) Net energetic and thermoregulatory efficiency during panting in the sheep. Comp Biochem Physiol a Comp Physiol 49:135–190

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Indu S, Sejian V, Naqvi SMK (2015) Impact of simulated heat stress on growth, physiological adaptability, blood metabolites and endocrine responses in Malpura ewes under semiarid tropical environment. Anim Prod Sci 55:766–776

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kalyan De, Kumar D, Singh AK, Sahoo A, Naqvi SMK (2014) Seasonal variation of physiological response in ewes of farmers’ flocks under semi-arid tropical environment. Biol Rhythm Res 45:397–405

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • López R, Pinto-Santini L, Perozo D, Pineda J, Oliveros I, Chacón T, Rossini M, Ríos AL (2015) Thermal comfort and growth of West African lambs grazing with and without access to artificial shade. Arch Zootec 64:139–146

    Google Scholar 

  • Macías-Cruz U, Álvarez-Valenzuela FD, Correa-Calderón A, Díaz-Molina R, Mellado M, Avendaño-Reyes L (2013a) Thermoregulation of nutrient-restricted hair ewes subjected to heat stress during late pregnancy. J Therm Biol 38:1–9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Macías-Cruz U, Avendaño-Reyes L, Álvarez-Valenzuela FD, Torrentera-Olivera NG, Meza-Herrera CA, Mella-Bosque M, Correa-Calderón A (2013b) Growth and carcass characteristics of ewe lambs treated with zilpaterol hydrochloride during spring and summer. Rev Mex Cienc Pecu 4:1–12

    Google Scholar 

  • Macías-Cruz U, Gastelum MA, Álvarez-Valenzuela FD, Correa-Calderón A, Díaz R, Meza-Herrera CA, Mellado M, Avendaño-Reyes L (2015) Effects of summer heat stress on physiologic variables, ovulation and progesterone secretion in Pelibuey ewes under natural outdoor conditions in an arid region. Anim Sci J. doi:10.1111/asj.12430

    Google Scholar 

  • Mader TL, Dahlquist JM, Hahn GL, Gaughan JB (1999) Shade and wind barrier effects on summer-time feedlot cattle performance. J Anim Sci 77:2065–2072

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marai IFM, El-Darawany AA, Fadiel A, Abdel-Hafez MAM (2007) Physiological traits as affected by heat stress in sheep—a review. Small Ruminant Res 71:1–12

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marai IFM, El-Darawany AA, Fadiel A, Abdel-Hafez MAM (2008) Reproductive performance traits as affected by heat stress and its alleviation in sheep. Trop Subtrop Agroecosys 8:209–234

    Google Scholar 

  • McManus C, Louvandini H, Gugel R, Sasaki LCB, Bianchini E, Bernal FEM, Paiva SR, Paim TP (2011) Skin and coat traits in sheep in Brazil and their relation with heat tolerance. Trop Anim Health Prod 43:121–126

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Monty DE, Kelly LM, Rice WR (1991) Acclimatization of St. Croix, Karakul and Rambouillet sheep to intense and dry summer heat. Small Ruminant Res 4:379–392

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Neves MLMW, de Azecedo M, da Costa LAB, Guim A, Leite AM, Chagas JC (2009) Critical levels of the thermal comfort index for Santa Ines sheep under grazing at the agreste region of Pernambuco state. Acta Sci Anim Sci 31:169–175

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Niyas AAA, Chaidayna K, Shaji S, Sejian V, Bhatta R, Bagath M, Rao GHSLVP, Kurien EK, Girish V (2015) Adaptation of livestock to environmental challenges. J Vet Sci Med Diagn 4:3

    Google Scholar 

  • Piccione G, Messina V, Vazzana I, Dara S, Giannetto C, Assenza A (2012) Seasonal variations of some serum electrolyte concentrations in sheep and goats. Comp Clin Pathol 21:911–915

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pinto-Santini L, Ríos AL, Oliveros I, Pigliacampo A, Chacón T (2014) Shadow effect at grazing on some physiological variables of West African lambs under emergency conditions of mild heat. Livest Res Rural Develop 26:1–11

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramana DBV, Pankaj PK, Nikhila M, Rani R, Sudheer D (2013) Productivity and physiological responses of sheep exposed to heat stress. J Agrometeorol (Special issue):71–76

  • Rashid MM, Hossain MM, Azad MAK, Hashem MA (2013) Long term cyclic heat stress influences physiological responses and blood characteristics in indigenous sheep. Bangladesh J Anim Sci 42:96–100

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rasooli A, Nouri M, Khadjeh GH, Rasekh A (2004) The influence of seasonal variations on thyroid activity and some biochemical parameters of cattle. Iran J Vet Res 5:1383–1391

    Google Scholar 

  • Robinson NE (2002) Hemostasis. In: Textbook of vet physiology, second edition, editors, J. G. Cunningham. St Louis: W. B. Saunders Company, pp 516–544

  • Romero RD, Pardo AM, Montaldo HH, Rodríguez AD, Cerón JH (2013) Differences in body temperature, cell viability, and HSP-70 concentrations between Pelibuey and Suffolk sheep under heat stress. Trop Anim Health Pro 45:1691–1696

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ross TT, Goode L, Linnerud AC (1985) Effects of high ambient temperature on respiration rate, rectal temperature, fetal development and thyroid gland activity in tropical and temperate breeds of sheep. Theriogenology 24:259–269

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Russel AJF, Doney JM, Gunn RJ (1969) Subjective assessment of body fat in live sheep. J Agric Sci 72:451–454

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • SAS (2004) SAS/STAT: User’s guide statistics released 9.1, 2nd Ed. SAS Institute, Inc. Cary, NC, USA.

  • Sejian V, Indu S, Naqvi SMK (2013) Impact of short term exposure to different environmental temperature on the blood biochemical and endocrine responses of Malpura ewes under semi-arid tropical environment. Indian J Anim Sci 83:1155–1160

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sejian V, Maurya VP, Naqvi SMK (2010) Adaptability and growth of Malpura ewes subjected to thermal and nutritional stress. Trop Anim Health Prod 42:1763–1770

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Silanikove N (2000) Effects of heat stress on the welfare of extensively managed domestic ruminants: a review. Livest Prod Sci 67:1–18

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Srikandakumar A, Johnson EH, Mahgoub O (2003) Effect of heat stress on respiratory rate, rectal temperature and blood chemistry in Omani and Australian Merino sheep. Small Ruminant Res 49:193–198

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tabarez-Rojas A, Porras-Almeraya A, Vaquera-Huerta H, Hernández-Ignacio J, Valencia J, Rojas-Maya S, Hernández-Cerón J (2009) Embryonic development in Pelibuey and Suffolk ewes under heat stress conditions. Agrociencia 43:671–680

    Google Scholar 

  • Wildeus S (1997) Hair sheep genetic resources and their contribution to diversified small ruminant production in the United States. J Anim Sci 75:630–640

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was supported through the first author by the PROMEP-SEP program in the 2011, likewise by the Autonomous University of Baja California, Mexico. The authors thank Yolanda Osorio and Samantha Perard for their technical assistance in the development of the current study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Ciencias Agrícolas, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, 21705, Mexicali, B.C., Mexico

    U. Macías-Cruz, M. A. López-Baca, R. Vicente, A. Mejía, F. D. Álvarez, A. Correa-Calderón & L. Avendaño-Reyes

  2. Unidad Regional Universitaria de Zonas Áridas, Universidad Autónoma Chapingo, 35230, Durango, Mexico

    C. A. Meza-Herrera

  3. Departamento de Nutrición Animal, Universidad Autónoma Agraria “Antonio Narro”, 25315, Coahuila, Mexico

    M. Mellado

  4. Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa, 80000, Culiacán de Rosales, Sinaloa, Mexico

    J. E. Guerra-Liera

Authors
  1. U. Macías-Cruz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. A. López-Baca
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. R. Vicente
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. A. Mejía
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. F. D. Álvarez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. A. Correa-Calderón
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. C. A. Meza-Herrera
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. M. Mellado
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. J. E. Guerra-Liera
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. L. Avendaño-Reyes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to L. Avendaño-Reyes.

Ethics declarations

All procedures involving sheep were conducted within the guidelines of approved local official techniques of animal care in Mexico (NOM-051-ZOO-1995: humanitarian care of animals during mobilization).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Macías-Cruz, U., López-Baca, M.A., Vicente, R. et al. Effects of seasonal ambient heat stress (spring vs. summer) on physiological and metabolic variables in hair sheep located in an arid region. Int J Biometeorol 60, 1279–1286 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-015-1123-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-015-1123-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation