The objective of this work was to determine the thermal comfort indexes and their effects on physiological parameters of native goats raised in confinement in the Cariri region of Paraíba state. In this study 36 non-castrated male animals, were used, 12 per genetic group, which were Moxotó, Azul and Graúna, with an average weight of 16.6 ± 1.7 kg, distributed in a completely randomized design in 3 x 5 factorial arrangement (three breeds and five observation times). The studied environmental data were collected by an electronic data acquisition model CR1000. To evaluate the physiological parameters rectal temperature, respiratory frequency and surface temperature were measured three days a week from 6 a.m to 6 p.m with an interval of three hours. Environmental parameters increased from 12 h to reach critical values at 3 p.m, characterizing a situation of thermal discomfort. The animals could maintain a rectal temperature within normal limits, but with increasing respiratory frequency. The superficial temperature did not very among races. The animals of breed Graúna presented higher daily weight gain during the experimental period in comparison to other breeds.
adaptability; animal bioclimatology; thermal stress
