Behavioral, Physiological and Biochemical Responses of Goats to Temperature, 0° to 40° C.

Abstract

THE goat is used extensively as an experimental animal in ChemicaI Corps research. Some data are available on the physiological and biochemical characteristics of goats under normal environmental conditions (15° to 20° C.). Little is known, however, about the physiology and biochemistry of goats under adverse environmental conditions, particularly thermal stress. Further, the behavior of goats has not been charted in sufficient detail under any environmental condition. Knowledge of the behavioral, physiological, and biochemical responses in goats to temperature is basic to studies in which the reactions of goats to particular treatments are measured under other than "normal" environmental conditions. Studies on the effect of various temperatures on the behavior and physiological reactions of the large (farm) animals have taken two forms. The earlier dealt with the effects of naturally occurring high temperatures in tropical or semi-tropical areas; the more recent work has been done in temperature-controlled laboratories. Techniques employed for the latter studies have been described by Brody (1948) and McDowell (1953). Copyright © . .