Holstein heifers in desert climate: effect of coat color on physiological variables and prediction of rectal temperature

Two hundred Holstein heifers were divided by hair coat color in black ( n 1 = 60), white ( n 2 = 62), and mixed ( n 3 = 78) to accomplish two objectives: (1) to compare physiological variables using an analysis of variance, and (2) to construct regression equations to predict rectal temperature. In each heifer, rectal temperature (RT), respiration frequency (RF), and body surface temperatures (obtained with infrared thermography in eye, nose, forehead, head, neck, ear, shoulder, flank, belly, leg, loin, rump, and vulva) were measured. Black heifers had more RF and RT ( P < 0.01) than mixed and white coat heifers; white heifers had similar RT than mixed color heifers, but they exhibited less RF ( P < 0.05). In general, black and mixed coat color heifers had higher BST ( P < 0.01) than white heifers in the majority of the anatomical regions measured. For black coat heifers, the best regression model to predict RT included three predictor variables: [RT = 35.59 − 0.013 (RH) + 0.045 (RF) + 0.019 ( T Ear ); R 2 = 71%]. For white coat heifers, the best model included two predictor variables: [RT = 35.29 + 0.035 (RF) + 0.033 ( T Forehead ); R 2 = 71%]; and for mixed coat color heifers, the best model included two predictor variables: [RT = 35.07 + 0.022 (RF) + 0.038 ( T Head ); R 2 = 44%]. Heifers with dark hair coat color showed higher physiological constants than white heifers; the prediction of rectal temperature was more precise in heifers with well-defined hair coat color. Physiological and climatic variables, along with infrared thermography, represent an appropriate combination to predict rectal temperature in Holstein heifers with predominant white or black hair coat color.