Multivariate analysis of the behavior and physiology of Girolando heifers in pasture
AUTOR(ES)
Batista, Pedro H. D.
FONTE
Rev. bras. eng. agríc. ambient.
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO
2019-04
RESUMO
RESUMO Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito térmico na mudança comportamental e fisiológica de novilhas girolando, por meio da análise de componentes principais. A pesquisa foi conduzida na região Agreste do estado de Pernambuco, Brasil. Foram utilizadas três novilhas submetidas ao sistema de pastejo contínuo. Para determinação do efeito térmico sobre os animais, foram registradas as variáveis temperatura de bulbo seco e umidade relativa do ar, o que permitiu determinar o índice de temperatura e umidade e a entalpia específica. As variáveis fisiológicas monitoradas foram a frequência respiratória, temperatura retal e temperatura de pelame. Os indicadores comportamentais quantificados foram andando, bebendo, comendo, ruminando e ócio, para determinação da porcentagem de tempo despendido em cada comportamento. As variáveis do estudo foram submetidas a análise exploratória e descritiva, para inferência do grau de associação dos componentes principais. A análise multivariada permitiu estabelecer o grau de pertinência entre os sinais fisiológicos e padrões comportamentais associado ao ambiente térmico, que indicaram adaptação das novilhas ao pastejo contínuo, mesmo em condições meteorológicas críticas.ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the thermal effect on the behavioral and physiological changes of Girolando heifers by means of principal components analysis. The research was conducted in the Agreste region of the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. Three heifers submitted to the continuous grazing system were used. For the determination of the thermal effect on the animals, the variables dry bulb temperature and relative air humidity were recorded, which allowed to determine the temperature and humidity index and the specific enthalpy. The physiological variables monitored were the respiratory rate, rectal temperature and skin temperature. The quantified behavioral indicators were walking, drinking, eating, ruminating and leisure, to determine the percentage of time spent in each behavior. The variables of the study were submitted to exploratory and descriptive analysis, in order to infer the degree of association of the main components. The multivariate analysis allowed to establish the degree of pertinence between the physiological signs and behavioral patterns associated with the thermal environment, which indicated heifers adaptation to continuous grazing, even in critical meteorological conditions.
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