Tympanic Temperature Profiles of Confined Beef Cattle

Authors

Terry L. Mader, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Leslie J. Johnson, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

2010

Comments

Published in 2009 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report (Lincoln, NE: December, 2008). Copyright © 2008 The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska.

Abstract

Angus crossbred yearling steers were used to evaluate tympanic temperature (TT) profile of cattle displaying high, moderate, or low levels of heat stress. Data indicate cattle that do not adequately cool down at night are prone to greater body temperatures during a subsequent hot day. Cattle that are prone to displaying moderate levels of heat stress but can cool at night will maintain average tympanic temperatures at or near those of cattle that tend to consistently maintain lower peak tympanic temperatures. In addition, during cooler and moderately hot periods, cattle change TT in a stair-step or incremental pattern, while under hot conditions, average TT of group-fed cattle moves in conjunction with ambient conditions, indicating that thermoregulatory mechanisms are at or near maximum physiological capacity.