Adaptation of Bovine Sweat Glands to a Hot Environment

Abstract

THE increase in human sweating following acclimatization to heat is well known¹. Bianca² found that, with cattle, repeated exposure to heat (37° C) in a psychrometric laboratory resulted in a progressive reduction in body temperature, respiratory rate and heart rate. However, there is little evidence of any causal adjustment of sweat gland activity under these conditions. Experiments by McLean³ and Banerjee et al.⁴ suggest that the sweating rates of cattle under artificial heating are directly related to the prevailing temperatures animals have been previously exposed to.