Effects of housing systems on physiological and energetic parameters in comisana ewes.

The pattern of some physiological parameters (rectal temperature, respiratory rate and heart rate) and some energetic parameters (glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol and total lipid) has been investigated with the purpose to assess the influence of shearing on thermoregulation. Thirty-six Comisana ewes were divided into two groups of 18 subjects and were allowed to two different housing systems: animals of group A were housed in an open-front barn with a paddock and animals of group B to a paddock equipped with shading net. After a period of adaptation to the experimental conditions, individual rectal temperature, respiratory and heart rates were measured. The serum concentrations of glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol and total lipid were also assessed. All parameters were recorded, with an average interval of eleven days during 90 days, from July 15th to October 11. The statistical analysis, the ANOVA followed by the Bonferroni’s test, showed a significant effect of the time for respiratory rate, heart rate and glucose and it showed that during experimental period the type of housing system influenced glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol and total lipid. These results confirm that different micro-environmental conditions can influence thermoregulatory mechanisms with effects on the productivity and on the welfare of ewes.