Effect of High Roughage and High Energy Diets on Body Temperature

Authors

Sheryl L. Colgan, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Terry L. Mader, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

January 2005

Comments

Published in 2005 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report. Copyright © 2004 The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska.

Abstract

Four heifers were used in two trials comparing the effect of high energy and high roughage diets on three body temperature measurements. Body temperatures were measured in the vagina, in the ear canal near the tympanic membrane, and in the rumen. The high roughage diet lowered all three measures of body temperatures as compared with the high energy diet. Vaginal, tympanic, and ruminal temperature all appeared to effectively measure body temperature as they followed the same diurnal cycle; however, ruminal temperatures were, on average, 0.5 to 1.4°F higher than other body temperature measures.