This experiment was carried out at the Nucleus of Research for to Tropic Semi-árid (NUPEÁRIDO), in the Health and Technology Center (CSTR) of the Universidade Federal de Campina Grande (UFCG), Campus of Patos-PB. 24 animals of the Sindi breed were utilized, alloted in a completely randomized design (DIC) in a 2 x 2 factorial scheme (Sex: male and female versus age: 12 and 24 months of age) with 6 (six) repetitions in the period of october to december 2001. The parameter’s studied were: rectal temperature (RT), breathing (BF) and heart (HF) frequency and hematologic profile. The readings and blood sampling were performed in the morning between 8:30 and 9:30 hours and in the afternoon between 14:30 and 15:30 once a week. In the experimental period, maximum and minimum temperatures were 35,74°C and 23°C, respectively, and average relative humidity was 51,7%. In the blood samples, which contained EDTA as an anticoagulant, the following tests were done: global count of the number of erythrocytes in modified Newbauer chamber utilizing Gower’s liquid, dosage of hemoglobin by the cyanomethahemoglobin method, determination of the globular volume by the microhematocrit method and calculation of absolute hematimetric indices (average globular volume - AGV, average globular hemoglobin - AGH, concentration of average globular hemoglobin - CAGH). No significant effect (P>0,05) of sex or age on the parameters studied was found. It was conclude that beef cattle of the Sindhi breed, males or females, aged between one and two years shown the same physiological behavior under adverse conditions of the Semi-arid region.
Heat stress; heart frequency; breathing frequency; rectal temperature; erythrogram
