Most Appropriate Heat Stress Index for Half-blood Dairy Heifers

Background: Heat stress indexes integrate several variables of the thermal environment in a single figure and predict their impact on animal welfare and performance. The correct interpretation of these indexes is of help in the choice of more adequate measures to attenuate the stress caused by the heat. Therefore, the aim of this research is to examine some of the heat stress indexes mentioned in the literature and to decide which ones best reflect the potential impact of meteorological conditions on the thermal homeostasis of half-blood dairy heifers bred in Uberlândia, Triângulo Mineiro area, Minas Gerais, Brazil.Materials, Methods & Results: Eight half-blood dairy heifers were exposed to direct sunlight from 9 h to 13 h in the months of November and December of 2016, and also January and February of 2017, 5 days per month on average, in Uberlândia, MG, Brazil. After this challenge, the respiratory rate and the rectal temperature were measured. Simultaneously to the collection of physiological variables, the temperatures of dry bulb and wet bulb, as well as that of black globe, were quantified, as was the wind speed. Afterwards, the solar radiation, the relative humidity, the mean radiant temperature and some heat stress indexes were calculated, the latter being Temperature-Humidity Index, Black Globe-Humidity Index, Equivalent Temperature Index, Environmental Stress Index, Respiratory Rate Index, Thermal Load Index, Environmental Specification Index, Thermal Comfort Index for Dairy Cattle, Comprehensive Climate Index and Cattle Heat Stress Index. These indexes were, then, correlated with the physiological variables. The averages of room temperature, black globe temperature, solar radiation, wind speed, radiant temperature and relative humidity were, respectively, 29.96°C, 41.73°C, 831.02 W/m2, 0.11 m/s-1, 318.14 K and 50.51%. Rectal temperature averaged 38.8ºC while respiratory rate averaged 41.97 breaths per minute-1. Correlating the 10 heat stress indexes with these two physiological variables, it was verified that the highest values, with a confidence of 95%, were demonstrated by the Equivalent Temperature Index (0.200 and 0.317, respectively), followed by the Cattle Heat Stress Index (0.186 and 0.314, respectively).Discussion: Room temperature was within the thermoneutral zone for half-blood dairy cattle. Nevertheless, the mean radiant temperature and the black globe temperature were higher, due to intense solar radiation. Wind speed was not very expressive and relative humidity was close to what was required. The average values of rectal temperature and respiratory rate were normal, which indicated the heifers are adapted to the thermal environment. Regarding the heat stress indexes, the Equivalent Temperature Index was recommended, as it presented the highest amount of meaningful correlations with the physiological variables, followed by the Cattle Heat Stress Index and the Environmental Stress Index. The average value of the Equivalent Temperature Index remained in the “caution” category, according to the literature’s two existing scales for interpretation of said index’s results, indicating the occurrence of stress by heat, albeit not severe. In conclusion, the Equivalent Temperature Index is considered the most appropriate heat stress index for evaluating a heat stress situation in half-blood dairy heifers bred in Uberlândia, Triângulo Mineiro, followed by the Cattle Heat Stress Index and the Environmental Stress Index.