Thermal Balance in Male Water Buffaloes Transported by Long and Short Journeys

Abstract

Livestock transport is a stressor with potential physiological, psychological, and financial consequences that can alter animal welfare, particularly in water buffalo, a species that has certain anatomical characteristics that make them susceptible to heat stress. Stress-induced hyperthermia is frequently observed in mobilized livestock, making it a parameter that could help to evaluate this event. Infrared thermography (IRT) is a tool that non-invasively assesses the thermal state of animals. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the surface temperature of water buffaloes monitored from the pasture to post-transport on short (SJs) and long journeys (LJs). When considering both groups, the highest temperatures were observed in the frontal-parietal region, while the lowest temperatures were registered in the nostrils. Moreover, a strong correlation was observed in all thermal windows. It is concluded that IRT can be used to accurately assess the thermal changes in buffaloes during transport.