ABSTRACT The consumption of saline water in semiarid regions is a recurrent situation that can affect the ingestive behavior of small ruminants. This study evaluated the ingestive behavior of Santa Inês sheep maintained in a climatic chamber under two air temperatures -25 °C within the thermal comfort zone (TCZ) and 32 °C above the TCZ - and consuming water with three levels of salinity - 2.0, 4.0, and 8.0 dS m-1. The experimental design was completely randomized in 2 × 3 factorial schemes, comprising two air temperatures and drinking water with three levels of salinity, in six replicates (animals). Regardless of air temperature, the consumption of saline water did not affect feed and water intake by the sheep; however, there was a decrease in feed intake and an increase in water intake as air temperature increased. Feed and water intake; feeding, rumination, and idle times; defecation frequency; and fecal production were not affected (P > 0.05) by the water salinity levels, whereas reduction in feed intake, feeding time, and rumination time and an increase in water intake and idle time were observed as air temperature increased. In summary, increasing air temperature negatively affected the ingestive behavior of the animals; however, water with salinity up to 8.0 dS m-1 did not affect their ingestive behavior and hence could be used for drinking.

Objetivou-se, com este trabalho, analisar as respostas fisiológicas de duas raças de caprinos nativos do semiárido brasileiro submetidos a ambiente com temperatura e umidade relativa controladas; utilizaram-se 12 animais machos, 6 Canindés e 6 Moxotós, com pesos médios iniciais de 19,6 ± 1,9 kg e 20,4 ± 1,6 kg, distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente casualizado em esquema fatorial (2 x 4), duas raças e quatro níveis de temperatura (20,6, 24,8, 27,8 e 31,6°C), com 6 repetições, e umidade relativa média do ar de 60 ± 5% e velocidade do vento de 0,5m s-1. Na temperatura entre 20,6 e 27,8°C a média da frequência respiratória (25,7 mov min-1) e frequência cardíaca (76,7 mov min-1) dos animais ficaram dentro da normalidade, sendo que a 31,6°C ocorreu elevação da frequência respiratória (134,5 mov min-1) e da frequência cardíaca (104,3 mov min-1). A temperatura retal foi semelhante em todas as temperaturas com média de 39,5°C, dentro da faixa de normalidade para a espécie. A temperatura superficial elevou-se com o aumento da temperatura ambiente. A faixa de temperatura de 20,6 a 27,8 °C pode ser considerada a zona de conforto térmico para caprinos nativos Moxotó e Canindé.

The objective of this study was to determine the physiological response of two caprine races from the Brazilian semiarid, submitted to a controlled thermal conditions in a climatic chamber. Twelve male animals were used, 6 Canindés e 6 Moxotós, with mean weight of 19,6 ± 1,9 kg and 20,4 ± 1,6 kg distributed in a completely randomized design, in factorial scheme (2 x 4), two races and four temperature levels (20.6, 24.8, 27.8 and 31,6°C), with six repetitions, with mean relative air humidity of 60 ± 5% and wind speed of 0.5 m s-1. In the temperature between 20.6 and 27.8°C the mean respiratory frequency (25.7 mov min-1) and cardiac frequency (76.7 mov min-1) of the animals were within normality, however, at 31.6°C, occurred elevation to 134.5 and 104.3 mov min-1 for the respiratory and cardiac frequency, respectively. Rectal temperature was similar in all temperatures with average of 39.5°C, within the range of normality for the species. The superficial temperature raised with the increase of the environment temperature. The range of temperature between 20.6 and 27.8 °C can be considered within the thermal comfort zone for native Moxotó and Canindé caprines.

Objetivou-se, com este trabalho, verificar o efeito da época do ano e período do dia sobre os parâmetros fisiológicos de reprodutores caprinos mestiços de Anglo-Nubiana com caprinos sem padrão racial definido, no Semi-árido paraibano. Utilizaram-se 20 caprinos machos, distribuídos em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado no esquema fatorial 2 x 2, duas épocas: E1, maio a agosto e E2, setembro a dezembro, e dois turnos, manhã e tarde, repetidos no tempo, totalizando 80 parcelas. Para os parâmetros hematológicos estudou-se apenas o efeito da época do ano. Os parâmetros fisiológicos, temperatura retal e freqüência respiratória, foram influenciados (P < 0,01) pelo turno, enquanto a temperatura superficial sofreu influência (P < 0,01) de ambos os fatores, turno do dia e época do ano. Os parâmetros hematológicos, hemácias, hematócrito e volume globular médio, foram influenciados (P < 0,05) pela época do ano. A pouca variação dos parâmetros fisiológicos de caprinos mestiços de Anglo-Nubiana com sem padrão racial definido, demonstra alto grau de adaptação à temperaturas elevadas. No período de maior temperatura a perda de calor através da forma evaporativa, respiração, determina a elevação do hematócrito e do volume globular médio.

The objective of this work was to verify the effect of time of year and period of day on physiological parameters of reproductive Anglo-Nubiana crossbred goats with goats without a defined racial pattern race, in the semi-arid Paraiba. 20 male goats were used, allocated into a completely randomized design in a 2 x 2 factorial scheme, two periods: E1, May to August, and E2, September to December, and two periods, morning and afternoon, repeated in time, totaling 80 plots. For the hematological parameters only the effect of time of year was studied. The physiological parameters, rectal temperature and respiratory frequency were influenced (P < 0.01) by the period, while the surface temperature (ST) suffered influence (P < 0.01) of both factors, day period and time of year. The parameters hematological, erythrocyte (HE), hematocrit (HT) and medium globular volume (MGV) were influenced (P < 0.05) by the time of the year. The little variation of the physiological parameters of Anglo-Nubiana crossbred goats without defined racial patlern demonstrates a high adaptation degree to high temperatures. During the period of higher temperature, the heat loss in the form of evaporation and respiration determines the elevation of the hematócrit and medium globular volume.