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Abstract

In order to evaluate the response of zebu cows to heat mitigation measures, twenty four non-gestating Sokoto Gudali cows were subjected to four treatments no cooling control, cooling with fan, cooling with shower, cooling with fan and shower. Animals were grazed daily inside fenced pastures from 8 am to 1 pm when the sun is overhead after which cooling measures were applied under shade. Ambient temperatures, Relative Humidity RH and Temperature Humidity Index THI during study were determined. Rectal Temperature RT, Respiratory Rates RR and blood profile of test animals were also measured. Mean daily temperature varied from 26.5-28.3C, maximum temperatures from 32.2-33.6C, RH from 77.3-82.1 and THI from 77.5-78.5. There were significant p0.05 reductions in RT and RR of cows 1h after application of cooling measures. The RT was 39.2, 38.5, 38.5 and 38.0C while RR was 30.1, 26.0, 26.7 and 22.1 breaths min1501 for control, fan, shower and fanshower, respectively. Erythrocyte count was 11.1, 13.0, 13.1 and 18.0 106 L1501 while leukocyte count was 20.6, 16.6, 16.7 and 14.6 103 L1501 for control, fan, shower and fanshower respectively. It may be concluded that application of cooling measures reduced heat load and enhanced erythrogenesis in zebu cows. The best results were obtained when fan and shower were combined in cooling the animals.