ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a difference between temperatures measured by a glass mercury thermometer and by a digital electronic thermometer. Rectal temperatures from 46 cross-breed cows were taken with these thermometers. The results demonstrated that rectal temperature measured by digital thermometer was 0,243ºC lower than that measured by glass mercury thermometer (p=0,004). In conclusion, it is necessary to consider this difference and the search for methods of adjusting the temperature obtained by the clinical and the digital electronic thermometers.
O propósito deste estudo foi determinar se há diferença no valor da temperatura aferida por termômetros clínicos de mercúrio e eletrônico digital. Foi aferida a temperatura retal (TR) de 46 bovinos mestiços com termômetros clínicos de mercúrio e eletrônico digital. Os resultados obtidos evidenciaram que a TR mensurada com o termômetro clínico digital é em média 0,243C inferior a TR mensurada com o termômetro clínico de mercúrio (P=0,004). Assim, é necessário considerar essa diferença e buscar medidas para adequar a temperatura obtida com o termômetro clínico eletrônico digital.