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Correlation of infrared tympanic and rectal body temperatures in lactating Bulgarian Murrah buffaloes in the Philippines
Authors: Adrian P. Ybañez,Vanissa G. Mutya, Julius V. Abela, Alberto A. Taveros, Norberto E. Milla
Number of views: 691
Determining body temperatures in a convenient, fast and less stressful method, like the infrared thermometry, is advantageous in the animal health industry. In this study, infrared thermometry and traditional methods (using mercury-in-glass and digital thermometers) in assessing tympanic and rectal (core body) temperatures in lactating Bulgarian Murrah were evaluated, respectively. A total of 9 animals in the Philippine Carabao Center at the Visayas State University, Baybay City, Leyte, Philippines were monitored twice daily (morning and afternoon) for 14 consecutive days within the warm season (May 2014). The procedure was repeated during the cool season (November 2014). Mean body temperatures were found higher in the warm season, and during afternoons. Ambient temperature readings using beechwood and infrared thermometers revealed no significant difference, and were found not strongly correlated with body temperature measures. Although infrared tympanic temperatures (ITT) were found significantly higher than rectal temperatures, the temperature readings were found moderately correlated. This indicates the reliability of the ITT as an alternative in assessing body temperatures. However, the study proposes that ITT and rectal temperature should not be interpreted as the same, and that normal range for ITT under different field conditions should be established. While infrared thermometry has been explored in several other livestock animals, this study is the first report in Bulgarian Murrah buffaloes in the Philippines.
Keywords: infrared thermometry; tympanic temperature; body temperature; Bulgarian Murrah; Philippines.