Use of infrared thermography to evaluate the influence of the climatic factors in the reproduction and lactation of dairy cattle / Utilização da termografia de infravermelho para avaliação de fatores climáticos e sua influência na reprodução e lactação em gado de leite

ABSTRACT

Background: The digital infrared imaging thermography is a non-invasive imaging exam of easy performance accurately to measure temperatures of the areas of the animals body. The objective was to study the physiological variations of the surface temperature of the mammary gland, vulva, pelvis, thorax and abdomen with digital infrared imaging thermography in negative dairy cattle with California mastitis test (CMT) in different seasons, and the influence of climatic factors in these temperatures. Materials, Methods & Results: Eighteen Holstein cows, pregnant and non pregnant were used, negative for the California Mastitis Test, grazing on Urochloa decumbens pasture, receiving 2 kg of corn / animal / day, mineral mix and ad libitum water. Infrared thermography was performed every 30 days, for five months January, February, March, April and May with thermographic camera (E40®, FLIR, Sweden) in the areas of the body vulva, mammary gland, pelvis, abdomen and thorax. The thermal images (thermograms) were processed using the Flir Tools 2.1® program. The climatic factors room temperature and relative humidity were monitored with globe thermometer (ITitwtg 2000®, Instrutemp, Brazil). Data were analyzed by analysis of variance and the average compared by Tukey test, with level of significance was set at (P 0.05). For room temperature data, relative humidity, rectal temperature [...]