Animal Environment and Adaptation Dr. Mickey Latour Purdue University

Animal Environment and Adaptation Performance and prediction of our domesticated animals are influenced by both genetics and environment.

Animal Environment and Adaptation Animal productivity can be influenced by:

Heat Loss and Heat Production Animals are grouped as:

Heat Loss and Heat Production Animals have 4 basic avenues of heat loss: 1.) Radiation is the exchange between two objects (warm to cold) and can be felt on contact. 2.) Conduction movement from warm to cold that are touching (animal lying on cold or hot surface).

Comfort Zone and Critical Temperature There is a range of temperatures where animals can perform maximally, the comfort zone or thermoneutral zone.

Physiological Acclimation to Temperature Stress Animals will partially adjust or acclimate to temperature when exposed over a period of time.

Controlling Heat Stress Summer time is a very difficult time for livestock and poultry. Animals can compensate to heat in a number of ways.

Feed and Water Needs During Heat Stress Animals need good quality water (e.g., free from microbes, other contaminants, cool).