This work aimed to characterize the microclimatic conditions of the stalls of a free-stall model confinement building for dairy cattle in the transversal direction of the installation. Free-stall building was oriented to north-south direction, located in Marechal Cândido Rondon, west of Paraná State -Brazil, with a capacity of 40 dairy cows (40 stalls). In order to determine the Black-Globe-Humidity Index (BGHI) and Radiant Heat Load (RHL), four black globes were installed in the center of stalls disposed in the transversal direction, disposing two globes in the west side and two globes in the east side (separated by the feed alley). At the building sidelong, east side, there was a four meter distant vegetation, that promoted shading in the first hours of the day. With the obtained results, it can be found that, in the first hours of the day there is no significant difference between the results of BGHI and RHL, indicating that the vegetation shading was able to relieve the solar radiation effects. At 17:30 p.m. it was verified the incidence of BGHI and RHL larger values in the stalls located at the free-stall west side.
environment; radiant heat load; dairy cattle
