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Abstract

Buffaloes are more susceptible to heat stress because they have poor thermoregulation due to fewer sweat glands. Like other livestock, buffaloes receive body heat from internal metabolic processes and the environment. This study investigates the relationship between buffalo thermoregulatory responses to microclimate and feed consumption in 12 Swamp buffalo heifers. This research was carried out in three sub-districts in West Sumatra, Indonesia, which were classified as low-land (Nan Sebaris District, Padang Pariaman Regency), moderate-land (Guguk District, 50 Kota Regency), and high-land (Batipuh District, Tanah Datar Regency). The Latin Square Design was used as the research design in three locations (4 heads per location) with varying microclimate conditions (altitude) and feed energy contents (TDN). F0 (buffaloes fasted for 24 hours), F1 (TDN = 58–60%), F2 (TDN = 63–65%), and F3 (TDN = 68–70%) were the feed treatments. The microclimate (ambient temperature-Ta and Temperature Humidity Index-THI), feed consumption (dry matter-DM and Total Digestible Nutrient-TDN), and thermoregulatory responses (rectal temperature-Tr, mean skin surface temperature-mTs, body temperature-Tb, heart rate-HR, and respiratory rate-RR) were all recorded. On days 11, 14, 17, and 20, environmental parameters and physiological responses were measured every 3 hours. The findings confirm that microclimate and feed consumption impact thermoregulatory responses. When the energy content of the feed increased, all thermoregulatory responses increased significantly (P<0.05). In conclusion, the buffalo thermoregulatory response was sensitive to changes in feed intake and microclimate variation. This study could help guide buffalo-raising management in various microclimate areas to achieve optimal productivity.