<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p> Fifteen sheep where placed in climatic chamber and exposed to a high temperature (30°C). Then, the air movement was induced in order to examine its soothing effect on heat stress. The physiological reactions like respiratory and heart rates, as well as the morphologic, biochemical parameters and cortisol levels in blood were examined. It was found that under heat stress conditions, the respiratory rate increased up to 96.43 breaths/min, heart rate up to 107.79 beats/min, and white blood cells count decreased to 9.12 k/μL. The increased level of potassium, chlorine, and calcium was also observed. The increased air movement resulted in thermal stress soothing. A decrease in respiratory rate, heart rate, and cortisol concentration was observed. The study demonstrated that heat stress leads to serious changes in physiological and blood parameters in sheep but this effect can be minimised by air movement.</p>
</abstract>

Fifteen sheep where placed in climatic chamber and exposed to a high temperature (30°C). Then, the air movement was induced in order to examine its soothing effect on heat stress. The physiological reactions like respiratory and heart rates, as well as the morphologic, biochemical parameters and cortisol levels in blood were examined. It was found that under heat stress conditions, the respiratory rate increased up to 96.43 breaths/min, heart rate up to 107.79 beats/min, and white blood cells count decreased to 9.12 k/μL. The increased level of potassium, chlorine, and calcium was also observed. The increased air movement resulted in thermal stress soothing. A decrease in respiratory rate, heart rate, and cortisol concentration was observed. The study demonstrated that heat stress leads to serious changes in physiological and blood parameters in sheep but this effect can be minimised by air movement.

Effect of thermal stress on physiological and blood parameters in merino sheep

Department of Environmental Hygiene and Animal Welfare, Faculty of Biology and Animal Sciences

Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences

Journal of Veterinary Research

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"Effect of thermal stress on physiological and blood parameters in merino sheep"}

Fifteen sheep where placed in climatic chamber and exposed to a high temperature (30°C). Then, the air movement was induced in order to examine its soothing...

Effect of thermal stress on physiological and blood parameters in merino sheep

Published Online: Jun 17, 2014

Page range: 283 - 288

Received: Jun 17, 2013

Accepted: Jun 05, 2014

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/bvip-2014-0043

Keywords
sheep, heat stress, air movement, physiological parameters, cortisol.

© 2014 National Veterinary Research Institute in Pulawy

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Effect of thermal stress on physiological and blood parameters in merino sheep

Published Online: Jun 17, 2014

Page range: 283 - 288

Received: Jun 17, 2013

Accepted: Jun 05, 2014

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/bvip-2014-0043

Keywordssheep, heat stress, air movement, physiological parameters, cortisol.

© 2014 National Veterinary Research Institute in Pulawy

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
sheep, heat stress, air movement, physiological parameters, cortisol.