Effect of Heat Stress on Physiological Parameters in Madgyal Sheep

The current study was carried out to assess the impact of heat stress on physiological parameters in Madgyal Sheep. To investigate this, sheep were exposed to 0,4 and 8 hrs heat of direct sunlight during grazing in 3 different Groups Viz A, B and C. The study was conducted on Day 0, Day 15 and Day 30 of the experiment to observe the effect of different duration of heat exposure on all physiological parameters. The temperature humidity index (THI) values duting the experimental period were found to be (76.28+-0.81) The results of the statistical analysis showed that there was no significant difference group wise and day wise in the Rectal temperature. However, the Respiration Rate, Pulse Rate and Heart Rate in Group wise comparison showed a significant difference (P<0.05) with increasing trend. In Day wise comparison of Respiratory Rate there was no significant difference at different days in Group A & B. However, there was a significance difference (P<0.05) in group C at different days with increasing trend. Pulse Rate and Heart rate Day wise comparison showed no significant difference at different days in Group A and C while there was a significant difference at different days in Group B with higher values at Day 15 and Day 30 as compared to at Day 0.