TREND IN THERMOREGULATION MECHANISMS IN WAGYU-BRAHMAN CATTLE IN THE HUMID TROPICS

  • Pedro Guerra-Martínez Instituto de Innovación Agropecuaria de Panamá. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6731-3624
  • José L. Bernal-Rosas Institute for Agricultural Innovation of Panama. https://orcid.org/0009-0004-7646-2882
  • Carlos I. Martínez-Delgado Institute for Agricultural Innovation of Panama. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3944-6558
  • Aristides A. Villarreal-Ruíz Institute for Agricultural Innovation of Panama.
  • María M. De Gracia-Victoria Institute for Agricultural Innovation of Panama.
  • Olegario Ibarra-Guerra Institute for Agricultural Innovation of Panama.
Keywords: conduction, convection, radiation, temperature-humidity index, thermoregulation, Wagyu-Brahman.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to analyze trends in body heat dissipation mechanisms of Wagyu–Brahman cattle grazing under humid tropical conditions. The study was conducted at the EEG-CMO experimental station of the Panamanian Institute of Agricultural Innovation (IDIAP). Four breed groups (BG) were evaluated: WG25, WG50, WG75, and WGF1. Independent variables included the temperature-humidity index (THI), body temperature (Tb), heat tolerance coefficient (CTC), and the live weight-body surface area ratio (WA). Dependent variables were heat dissipation through convection (Qc), radiation (Qr), and conduction (Qk). Data were analyzed using simple correlation and linear regression forced through the origin for each BG. Correlations between Qc, Qr, and Qk with THI and CTC were low to very low (P > 0.05) across all BGs. However, WG50 and WGF1 exhibited higher heat dissipation per unit of THI, Tb, CTC, and WA across all three mechanisms. For convection (Qc), WG50 and WGF1 dissipated 0.00054 and 0.00053 kcal s⁻¹ per unit of THI, respectively, and similar proportional increases were observed relative to Tb, CTC, and WA. For radiation (Qr), these groups exhibited the highest dissipation rates, ranging from 0.153 to 0.154 kcal m⁻² s⁻¹ per unit of THI. Likewise, conduction (Qk) dissipation rates were greater in WG50 and WGF1 across all independent variables evaluated. Overall, heat dissipation through convection, radiation, and conduction exhibited a linear trend (P < 0.01) with THI, Tb, CTC, and WA when modeled from the origin in all breed groups. The most outstanding thermoregulatory efficiency was observed in WG50 and WGF1, indicating superior adaptation to humid tropical conditions.

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Published
2026-01-08
How to Cite
Guerra-Martínez, P., Bernal-Rosas, J., Martínez-Delgado, C., Villarreal-Ruíz, A., De Gracia-Victoria, M., & Ibarra-Guerra, O. (2026). TREND IN THERMOREGULATION MECHANISMS IN WAGYU-BRAHMAN CATTLE IN THE HUMID TROPICS. Ciencia Agropecuaria, (42), 7-30. Retrieved from http://www.revistacienciaagropecuaria.ac.pa/index.php/ciencia-agropecuaria/article/view/689
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Artículos