W.LIV.3038 Heat Management in the Middle East
| Project start date: | 16 June 2016 |
| Project end date: | 15 May 2016 |
| Publication date: | 15 May 2016 |
| Project status: | Completed |
| Livestock species: | Sheep, Goat, Lamb, Grassfed cattle, Grainfed cattle |
Summary
Heat load in sheep exported from Australia to the Middle East (ME) continues to have the potential to be a health and welfare concern; therefore continued research in this area is paramount. Research to date has provided information about the internal rumen temperatures (RT) of sheep exported from Western Australia to the Middle East at various times of the year, with comparison to environmental conditions.
Conclusions from phase one of work undertaken in 2014 suggests that feedlotting in a hot, dry destination exposed the sheep to high heat, but with low humidity provided satisfactory night time respite, while feedlotting in a hot, humid destination exposed the sheep to sustained periods of moderate to high wet bulb temperature.
Therefore, the objectives of phase two primarily focused on monitoring environmental conditions and animal responses under different shade types and with additional measures to attempt to cool sheep. Cooling interventions such as additional shade, increased air movement, and ground wetting were tested, and there was a greater decrease in rumen temperature for sheep under double shade plus fans plus ground wetting than in control sheep kept under single shade. Environmental conditions were monitored at several ME feedlots throughout 2015 and indicated the need for further direct comparison and evaluation of different shade structures and interventions, which may potentially cool the sheep.
Work to be conducted over the ME summer 2016 investigates further the effects of different shade structures in feedlots on the thermal load of sheep, and tests whether using fans and ground wetting in a humid environment will alter the internal rumen temperature of sheep exposed to those interventions. The results from this work will inform construction and management at feedlots along with a list of strategies that can be implemented in summer to reduce mortality and reduce the impact of heat exposure for sheep while in the feedlot. The results off all phases of this research will be condensed into a Tips and Tools document and communicated prior to the ME summer in 2017.
