The effect of environmental temperature and humidity on the rectal temperature of calves

Abstract

1. The rectal temperatures of three 4-month-old Ayrshire bull calves were measured in individual 6 hr. daily exposures to 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40° C. dry-bulb temperature at low humidity (17 mg./l. absolute humidity) and to 30, 35 and 40° C. at high humidity (7 mg./l. saturation deficit). The experiments on each animal lasted 45 consecutive days and consisted of five replications of these nine environmental conditions. Measurements of rectal temperature were made every 5 min. 2. The rectal temperatures of the animals rose with increasing environmental temperature and humidity.