Physiological Response of Local and Saanen x Local Cross Goats during the Late Rainy Season in North-eastern Brazil

Abstract

In order to compare in vivo performance and environmental adaptation of two genetic types of goats raised in north-eastern Brazil, 20 females (10 local and 10 Saanen x local) were used in this experiment. During the late rainy season the goats were monitored for the following parameters: body weight, body (BT) and skin temperature (ST), respiratory (RR) and heart rate (HR) as well as the air temperature (AT) and humidity (HU) in the pens in the morning (MR) and afternoon (AR). From May to June the crossbred goats showed a significant gain (P< 0.05); the live weight of F1 was superior to the local goats (P< 0.05) at the end of the experiment. The physiological response during the AR was significantly superior to MR (P< 0.05) for all parameters. The local goats achieved the highest values of BT and ST during the experiment. On average, the physiological rhythms (RR and HR) were higher in crossbred than local goats. In conclusion, crossbred goats showed to be less at risk to environmental stress condition in north-eastern Brazil