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Body Surface Evaporation Rates at Low and High Temperatures in Murrah Buffalo¹

Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, U.P., India and Cornell University, Ithaca, New York

ABSTRACT

Evaporation rates of water from the skin surfaces were measured by capsule technique on three body locations of five Murrah buffalo heifers. After being accustomed to hot, dry (summer), hot, humid (monsoon) and cool (winter) ambient conditions, the heifers were moved to a psychrometric control room maintained at either 18.5 C dry bulb temperature, 13.0 C wet bulb temperature or 40.5 C dry bulb temperature, 35.0 C wet bulb temperature. Evaporation rates and skin and rectal temperatures were recorded between the fourth and sixth hour of exposure in the control room. The conditions of exposure prior to the tests had a significant (P < .01) influence on evaporation rates under both test regimes. At 185 C, the rates were about the same as for Gir and Hariana cattle (4.6 mg/10 cm²/5 min). Under the hot, humid tests (40.5 C) the evaporation rates were 50.8, 26.2 and 24.1 mg for the summer, monsoon and winter seasons, respectively. This was 26% less than for Gir and Hariana cattle in summer and about 50% less in the other two seasons. The marked increase in evaporation rates under the high test conditions indicates contributions by sweat glands. Rates were not significantly correlated with either skin or rectal temperature at 18.5 C, but at 40.5 C both temperatures were negatively correlated (P < .01) with evaporation rates (avg -.60).

¹ These investigations were financed in part by a grant made by the United States Department of Agriculture, A.R.S., under Public Law 480.

² Present address: Department of Animal Physiology, Bengal Veterinary College, Calcutta, India.