Comparación de la termometría digital infrarroja y electrónica en pollos de engorde

Se utilizaron datos de la temperatura corporal (BT) obtenidos de 150 pollos de engorde no envejecidos de 28 d de edad para comparar la exactitud de los diferentes termómetros. Se utilizaron simultáneamente termómetros digitales electrónicos (ED) e infrarrojos (IR) para medir BT. La termometría de ED se realizó a través del recto (TEMPd) mientras que el termómetro IR se usó en la apertura del recto (TEMPiR), la frente (TEMPiH) y bajo las alas (TEMPiW). Los datos se sometieron a análisis de correlación de ANOVA y Pearson. Diagramas de dispersión se representaron para generar R2 para las relaciones entre las lecturas del termómetro. El tipo de termómetro tuvo un efecto significativo (P 0,001) a TEMPiW, pero el dúo fue significativamente mayor que TEMPiR y TEMPiH. TEMPiH no fue significativamente diferente de la de la apertura del recto. Existe correlación positiva entre TEMPd y TEMPiW (r = 0.327) mientras que la correlación entre TEMPd y TEMPiH es negativa (r = -0.250). TEMPiR no tuvo correlación significativa (P> 0,05) con TEMPd (r = 0,061). Regresión lineal de TEMPd con TEMPiR, TEMPiH y TEMPiW rindió R2 valores de 0,003, 0,062 y 0,106, respectivamente. Las desviaciones de TEMPd obtenidas fueron de 3,63, 3,79 y -0,12oC para TEMPiR, TEMPiH y TEMPiW, respectivamente. TEMPiR y TEMPiH en pollos de engorde no produjeron lecturas similares en comparación con los termómetros ED. La termometría con IR debajo de las alas dio una lectura más cercana con el termómetro ED. La precisión del termómetro IR en los pollos de engorde depende del punto en la superficie del cuerpo del que se toma la lectura. Las lecturas con IR debajo de las alas imitan la temperatura corporal central

Comparison of infrared, electronic digital and mercury-in glass thermometers: 1. West African dwarf goats

Monitoring body temperature accurately is essential in livestock production. Data of body temperature measurements taken concurrently with electronic digital (ED), mercury-in-glass (MG) and infrared (IR) thermometers in 107 (male=38 and female=69) West African Dwarf (WAD) goats aged between 6 months and 3 years were compared to assess the accuracy. ED and MG thermometry was taken via the rectum (TEMPd and TEMPa respectively) while the IR thermometer was used on the opening of the rectum (TEMPiR) and forehead (TEMPiH). The data were subjected to analysis of variance and Pearson correlation analysis. Scatter diagrams were plotted to generate R-squared for the relationships between the readings of the thermometers. Thermometer type had significant (P<0.001) effect on body temperature (BT) in WAD goats. The BT recorded was in the order: TEMPd > TEMPa > TEMPiR > TEMPiH. There was strong positive significant (P<0.001) correlation between TEMPd and TEMPa (r=0.896). The correlations between TEMPd and TEMPiR (r=0.237) and TEMPa and TEMPiR (r=0.222), though significant (P<0.05), were weak. TEMPiH and TEMPiR had positive and significant (P<0.001) correlation (r=0.503). TEMPiH had no significant (P>0.05) correlation with TEMPd and TEMPa. Linear regression of TEMPd with TEMPa, TEMPiR and TEMPiH yielded R2 of 0.802, 0.056 and 0.00006 respectively. Deviations from TEMPd obtained were 0.34, 0.92 and 2.54oC for TEMPa, TEMPiR and TEMPiH respectively. Taking body temperature of WAD goats with IR thermometer on the forehead may not give correct measurement as with the traditional MG and ED thermometers. Temperature measurement with IR thermometer on the opening of the rectum of WAD goats seems to be more accurate than on the forehead.Keywords: rectal temperature, heat stress, health, welfare, diagnosi

Comparison of infrared, electronic digital and mercury-inglass thermometers: 2. Red sokoto goats

Forty eight (male=8; female=40) adult Red Sokoto goats were used in an experiment to compare accuracy of different thermometers. Body temperature (BT) was concurrently measured with electronic digital (ED), mercury-in-glass (MG) and infrared (IR) thermometers. ED and MG thermometry was taken via the rectum (TEMPd and TEMPa respectively) while the IR thermometer was used on the opening of the rectum (TEMPiR) and forehead (TEMPiH). The data were subjected to analysis of variance and Pearson correlation analysis. Scatter diagrams were plotted to generate R squared for the relationships between the readings of the thermometers. Thermometer type had significant (P<0.001) effect on BT in RS goats. TEMPd was similar (P>0.05) to TEMPa, but the duo were significantly higher than TEMPiR and TEMPiH. BT from IR thermometer on the forehead was significantly lower than at the opening of the rectum. There was strong positive significant (P<0.001) correlation between TEMPd and TEMPa (r=0.958). TEMPd and TEMPa had significant (P<0.001) correlations with TEMPiR (r=0.519 and r=0.562 respectively), but not (P>0.05) with TEMPiH. Linear regression of TEMPd with TEMPa, TEMPiR and TEMPiH yielded R2 of 0.918, 0.269 and 0.040 respectively. Deviations from TEMPd obtained were 0.23, 0.91 and 1.69oC for TEMPa, TEMPiR and TEMPiH respectively. The use IR thermometer on the forehead of RS did not yield similar reading compared to other thermometers. Temperature measurement with IR thermometer on the opening of the rectum of RS goats seems to be more accurate than on the forehead.Keywords: rectal temperature, heat stress, health, welfare, diagnosi

Effect of dosage of vitamin E on physiological and blood parameters in growing Arbor acre pullets under humid tropical conditions

One hundred and forty-four growing Arbor acre broiler breeder pullets were used to determine the effect of vitamin E (dL-á-tocopheryl acetate; VE)  on physiological and blood responses. The birds aged 21 days were randomly assigned to 4 treatments comprising 0, 50, 100, 150mgVE/kg of diet, with 3 replicates per treatment till day 84. Data obtained for rectal temperature (RT), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), skin temperature under  wing (STW) and on the breast (STB), haematology and plasma biochemistry were subjected to analysis of variance. In female chickens, VE significantly (p<0.05) affected HR, STW, WBC, heterophil, lymphocyte and H/L ratio but did not affect RT, RR, STB, PCV, RBC, Hb concentration, eosinophil, monocyte, basophil, MCV, MCH, MCHC and biochemical parameters. Only pullets on 100mg/kg VE had lower HR than the control group.  For STW, 50mg/kg VE had lower value than the control. VE, irrespective of dosage, increased (p<0.05) WBC and lymphocyte in pullets compared to control group. Except in 100mg/kg feed group, heterophil and H/L ratio in pullets on 50 and 150mg/kg feed recorded lower values than the control. VE administration of at least 50mg/kg in the diet of growing broiler breeder chickens might help in decreasing skin temperature, improving  immunity and reducing stress under hot conditions. Keywords: tocopherol; heat stress; broiler breeder; blood; haematology; plasma biochemistr