INFLUENCE OF THE TEMPERATURE-HUMIDITY INDEX ON SOME PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS IN DAIRY GOATS

The aim of this paper is to study the microclimate in a dairy goat farm during the warmest (July and August) and coldest months of the year (January and February) and evaluate its impact on animal welfare and health. Temperature, relative humidity and illuminance were monitored. The severity of temperature stress was determined by calculating the temperature-humidity index (THI). The average value of THI for the month of August exceeded that for the month of July by 1.5 and it also remained above the threshold accepted for extremely high heat stress (28.6). During the cold days of the year (January and February), when the goats were mainly in the barn, THI did not exceed 17, varying between 5 and 16.8. The average relative humidity and illuminance remained within their permissible values. As a physiological adaptive response during the hot months, animals responded with an increase in rectal and skin temperature, pulse rate and respiratory movements while rumen contractions decreased.