Measuring rectal temperature is a common method for assessing the body temperature in animals in response to changes in physiology, health, and emotions. However, non-invasive infrared thermography is a more advanced technique that reduces the stress associated with restraining animals and minimises risks related to cross-contamination and disease transmission. The present study investigated the association between rectal temperature (RT) and infrared temperature (IRT) of the goat’s external body surfaces. A total of one hundred thirteen (113) goats were considered for this study, and those that showed signs of health deviations were excluded from the evaluation. Thus eighty-four (84) goats were used for the study. We recorded the RT of each goat, as well as the maximum (M) and average (A) IRT of the forehead, right and left ears, right and left eyes, right and left coronary bands of the forelimbs, right and left shoulders, and the mucous membrane of the mouth, simultaneously. The descriptive statistics revealed that the maximum IRT values were higher than RT, except for the right coronary band, left coronary band, right shoulder, and left shoulder. Pearson correlation showed RT has a positive association with all IRT measures, including maximum and average values. The highest association was observed between RT and right eye maximum IRT (REM) (r = 0.63). In addition, the regression analysis showed RT and REM have a moderate correlation (S = 0.36 and R2 = 39.6%). In conclusion, the maximum IRT of the right eye could be used as a non-invasive measure of body temperature in goats. More research is needed to investigate the potential of eye IRT towards automated recording of body temperature in goats.
Ali et al. (Wed,) studied this question.