Impact of the Temperature-Humidity Index on Body Temperature, Physiological Response, Lipid Profile, Thyroid Function, and Reproductive Performance of Damascus Goat Bucks

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Depart. of Anim. Prod., Fac. Of Agric. Minia Univ.

2 Anim. Prod. Res. Inst., Agric. Res. Center

Abstract

A total of 17 Damascus bucks were exposed to different THI conditions during the experimental intervals covering THI of 14.06-21.29 in December (no HS), 22.28-25.14 in March (moderate HS), and 27.19-35.41 in July (severe-extreme HS). Temperature of hair, skin, rectum, and scrotum as well as pulse rate increased (P<0.05) under moderate HS compared to no HS, but further increase (P<0.05) was found in all under severe-extreme HS. Respiratory rate was higher (P<0.05) under severe-extreme HS than under absence or moderate HS. Increasing THI (severe-extreme HS) decreased (P<0.05) RBCs, WBCs, Hb, and Ht to the minimum values, compared to no HS. Plasma concentration of triglycerides, total cholesterol, and very LDL-cholesterol decreased (P<0.05) only under severe-extreme HS. Plasma T3 and T4 concentrations decreased (P<0.05) under severe-extreme HS compared to no or moderate HS. Reaction time was longer and plasma testosterone concentration was lower (P<0.05) under severe-extreme HS than no or moderate HS. Ejaculate volume, and percentages of sperm progressive motility, livability, normality, acrosome integrity, and sperm cell concentration were higher (P<0.05) under no or moderate HS than severe-extreme HS. Sperm output per ejaculate, as total, motile, live, and normal were higher (P<0.05) under no and moderate HS than severe-extreme HS. Body core and surface temperatures, hematology, lipid profile, thyroid function, and semen quality can be reliable monitoring tools for predicting heat stress in goat bucks.

Keywords

Journal of Animal and Poultry Production
Volume 16, Issue 1
January 2025
Pages 15-23

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