Thermal biology in river buffalo in the humid tropics: neurophysiological and behavioral responses assessed by infrared thermography

Mota-Rojas, Daniel; Napolitano, Fabio; Braghieri, Ada; Guerrero‐Legarreta, Isabel; Bertoni, Aldo; Martı́nez-Burnes, Julio; Cruz-Monterrosa, Rosy G.; Gómez-Prado, Jocelyn; Ramírez-Bribiesca, Efrén; Barrios-García, Hugo; José, Nancy; Álvarez, Adolfo; Mora-Medina, Patricia; Orihuela, Agustı́n

doi:10.31893/jabb.21003

Cited by 44 publications

(61 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…While wallowing allows for cooling with water or mud, this cannot be considered as enough for animal welfare, because radiation in the head and spine is not avoided [ 11 , 20 ]. It would be interesting to have data on how radiation influences the temperature in different areas of the body, as was done under infrared thermography, through which microvascular changes in the head were previously studied, particularly in the area of the eye orbits and in the muscles of the spine, scrotum, or mammary gland [ 24 , 25 ], both while in and out the water, and with or without tree shade [ 26 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thermoregulatory and Feeding Behavior under Different Management and Heat Stress Conditions in Heifer Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) in the Tropics

Galloso-Hernández

Soca-Pérez

Dublin

et al. 2021

Animals

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In the wake of climate change and global warming, the production systems of water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) are receiving increasing attention in the tropics, where the silvopastoral systems can improve animal welfare and production conditions. The objective of this study was to characterize the behavior of heifer buffaloes in a silvopastoral system (SPS) with Leucaena leucocephala (600 trees/ha) and in a conventional system (CVS), under intense heat stress and moderate heat stress in Cuba. We observed nine animals, with an average weight of 167.9 kg at the beginning of the study, during the daylight period, from 6:00 to 18:00 h, at 10 min intervals, for 12 days. Activities recorded were grazing, ingestion of tree leaves, rumination, water intake, walking, lying, standing, sheltering in the shade of trees, and wallowing. Sheltering in the shade of trees and wallowing were collectively considered as thermoregulatory behavior (TB). TB was different in both systems and conditions of heat stress (p < 0.05), with 4.06 in CVS and 3.81 h in SPS in the intense heat stress period, while it was 2.91 and 1.08 h for SPS and CVS, respectively, during the moderate heat stress period. The wallowing activity showed statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in the intense heat stress season with 1.18 and 2.35 h for SPS and CVS, respectively. Time spent on feeding behavior was highest in the SPS system (p < 0.05). Longer times of thermoregulatory and feeding behavior indicate the importance of trees in animal welfare for this species in tropical conditions, thus supporting avoided deforestation and the replanting of trees in existing production systems and landscapes.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thermoregulatory and Feeding Behavior under Different Management and Heat Stress Conditions in Heifer Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) in the Tropics

Galloso-Hernández

Soca-Pérez

Dublin

et al. 2021

Animals

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“…In the following sections, the most important morphophysiological and reproductive aspects that distinguish the river buffalo from dairy cows and beef cattle are described at length. See Figure 1 [1,15,[21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35].…”

Section: Anatomy and Physiologymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As endothermic animals, buffaloes and cattle are capable of controlling their body temperature by regulating their basal metabolic rate through the mechanism of thermoregulation in which the energy produced by cellular metabolism (catabolism, anabolism) can be partially dissipated by irradiating heat by the organism itself [23,63]. However, if heat loss is deficient, the animal can suffer heat stress.…”

Section: Thermoregulationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Melanin particles trap ultraviolet rays (UV) to prevent them from penetrating the dermis into internal tissue layers, while simultaneously blocking solar radiation from reaching the core of the animal's body. UV rays are abundant in the solar radiation of tropical and sub-tropical regions, so excessive exposure of the skin can be harmful [23,[66][67][68]. Another advantageous characteristic of the buffalo is the number of hair follicles: only 135-145/cm 2 compared to 3,000/cm 2 in normal zebus-Bos indicus cattle.…”

Section: Thermoregulationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Similarities and Differences between River Buffaloes and Cattle: Health, Physiological, Behavioral and Productivity Aspects

Bertoni¹,

Napolitano²,

Mota-Rojas³

et al. 2020

J Buf Sci

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The river buffalo is an emerging production species worldwide; indeed, it is overtaking other cattle as a producer of meat and milk in some countries. Though both species belong to the Bovidae family, they show significant anatomical, physiological, and behavioral differences due to their different phylogenetic positions. The river buffalo is a rustic animal that can benefit from low-quality, fibrous forages due to its digestive system, in contrast to beef cattle or dairy cows. Besides, the buffalo cow's reproductive apparatus has fewer cervical muscle rings and a shorter vagina and cervix. This species has maintained its seasonal breeding pattern, also in contrast to Bos indicus and Bos taurus. Even though buffaloes have an inefficient thermoregulating system, scarce hair, and a thicker epidermis, they are more resistant to tropical weather conditions if water for wallowing is available than dairy cows, which in turn adapt better to temperate zones. Due to the morphology of the river buffalo's mammary glands, they produce less milk, while their conical teats with narrower sphincters decrease predisposition to mastitis compared to dairy cows. Thus, the study of the anatomical and physiological differences among river buffalo, Bos Taurus, and Bos Indicus will allow the implementation of strategies to improve the former's productivity while also increasing welfare levels according to the production system in which they are raised.

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“…Zebu (Bos indicus) and water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) have been often considered comparable to beef and dairy cattle (Bos taurus), respectively, with most of the techniques developed for the later breeds transferred to the former tropical species without changes or adaptations, although most of the studies on beef and dairy cattle were performed on European breeds and in countries with a temperate/cold climate (Abeygunawardena and Dematawewa 2004;Napolitano et al 2013;Bertoni et al 2019Bertoni et al , 2020). However, it should be noted that even though the fundamental physiological aspects might be similar, allowing their classification as large ruminants within the same sub-family (Bovinae), there are substantial differences, so they are classified into different species, with genotypes developed in response to specific environments, resulting in different phenotypes and physiological characteristics (Sartori et al 2010;Mota-Rojas et al 2020a). Important differences between these species call into question that strategies generated in one species, produces the same results when applied to the other.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Weaning strategies to improve productivity and animal welfare in zebu (Bos indicus) and water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis)

Orihuela

Mota-Rojas

Napolitano

2020

JABB

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Information on approaches to weaning zebu (Bos indicus) and water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) calves is scarce in proportion to studies of breeds of B. taurus cattle, whether dairy or beef. Little research has been done to test or validate methods evolved in cattle-ranching to these other species. Hence, expanding our understanding of appropriate, speciesspecific methods of weaning could support the development of approaches or strategies that have the potential to improve animal welfare and productive performance in temperate or tropical climes. This review focuses on traditional and current weaning strategies in an attempt to improve productivity and animal welfare for water buffaloes and zebus. For the case of the water buffalo, it examines common, routine weaning techniques and procedures as well as novel approaches, while for the zebu it discusses abrupt versus gradual and early versus late weaning as strategies and routines usually employed during this process. Finally, it analyses how new weaning techniques may reduce stress while enhancing productivity at the same time. These approaches include fence-line weaning, nose-flaps (plastic devices that prevent the calf from grabbing a teat to suckle), restricted suckling and a section on practical tips to decrease the stress induced by weaning in zebus. A better understanding of certain weaning techniques could, therefore, benefit calf welfare while simultaneously increasing cows' reproductive performance. Unfortunately, data on such approaches is scant, so despite published findings, several key issues remain unsolved living room for additional studies.

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Thermal biology in river buffalo in the humid tropics: neurophysiological and behavioral responses assessed by infrared thermography

Cited by 44 publications

References 41 publications

Thermoregulatory and Feeding Behavior under Different Management and Heat Stress Conditions in Heifer Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) in the Tropics

Thermoregulatory and Feeding Behavior under Different Management and Heat Stress Conditions in Heifer Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) in the Tropics

Similarities and Differences between River Buffaloes and Cattle: Health, Physiological, Behavioral and Productivity Aspects

Weaning strategies to improve productivity and animal welfare in zebu (Bos indicus) and water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis)

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