Development of an animal adaptability index: Application for dairy cows

• Published in: Journal of thermal biology 2020-04, Vol.89, p.102543-7, Article 102543
• Main Authors: de Vasconcelos, Angela Maria, de Carvalho, Jefferson Ferreira, de Albuquerque, Cleverton Caçula, Façanha, Débora Andréa Evangelista, Vega, Wilder Hernando Ortiz, Silveira, Robson Mateus Freitas, Ferreira, Josiel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acclimation; Acclimatization; Adaptability; Alanine; Animals; Aspartate Aminotransferases - blood; Blood; Blood Cell Count; Blood Glucose - analysis; Blood indicators; Body Temperature; Breeding - methods; Breeding - standards; Cattle; Cattle - physiology; Cell size; Cholesterol; Cholesterol - blood; Creatinine; Creatinine - blood; Dairy cattle; Erythrocytes; Hematology; Hemoglobin; Livestock; Multivariate analysis; Respiration; Respiratory Rate; Thermal tolerance; Thyroid hormones; Thyroxine; Triglycerides; Triglycerides - blood; Triiodothyronine; Tropical environment; Urea
• ISSN: 0306-4565; 1879-0992
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2020.102543

The objective of this study was designed to evaluate the association between thermoregulatory responses, hormonal, hematological and serum biochemical values features aiming to propose an adaptability index (AI) for dairy cows under tropical conditions. Thirty adult dairy cows were used, including 15 Sindi and 15 Girolando breeds with mean weight of 338.52 ± 42.79 kg and 487.54 ± 60.67 kg, respectively. These data included rectal temperature (RT) and respiratory rate (RR). For the serum of blood sample, the levels of glucose (GLU), cholesterol (CHO), triglycerides (TRI), total protein (TP), creatinine (CRE), albumin (ALB), urea (URE), aspartate aminotrasferase (AST) and alanine aminotrasferase (ALT) and hormonal concentrations (triiodothyronine – T3 and thyroxine – T4). For the total blood samples were analyzed for hematology variables: red blood cell count (RBC); hemoglobin concentration (HC); packet cell volume (PCV); mean corpuscular volume (MCV); white blood cell (WBC). The AI was development using multivariate analysis to "weigh" the influence of each variable in the animal responses. The variables more important for adaptive aspects of Sindi and Girolando cows were respectively: GLU; MCV; AST; PCV; RBC; HE; TP; ALB; ALT; RR; T4; RT; T3; URE; CHO; TRI; CRE; WBC and ALB; GLU; TP; AST; RR; ALT; CRE; CHO; RT; RBC; T4; HE; PCV; MCV; URE; TRI; WBC; T3. The difference between breeds was just over 8% for AI. We developed a preliminary AI, able to measure the level of adaptability of dairy cows under tropical region. The methodological framework has potential to inform decision-makers on the adaptability animal conditions and high inference of the blood values from adaptability of cows. •The physiological responses were evaluated to determining an adaptability index used for dairy cows.•The methodological framework has potential to inform decision-makers on the adaptability of the animals.•The blood parameters presented high inference in adaptability aspects of dairy cows.