Assessment of adaptive and physiological trait expression in one-year-old male calves from Braford, Brangus, Tulianguy, Hereford, and Angus breeds in northern Uruguay

Assessment of adaptive and physiological trait expression in one-year-old male calves from Braford, Brangus, Tulianguy, Hereford, and Angus breeds in northern Uruguay | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Assessment of adaptive and physiological trait expression in one-year-old male calves from Braford, Brangus, Tulianguy, Hereford, and Angus breeds in northern Uruguay Paula A. Batista Taborda This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7014575/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 27 Jan, 2026 Read the published version in Tropical Animal Health and Production → Version 1 posted 4 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract The Uruguayan livestock system, especially in the north of the country, is characterized by being pastoral, open-air, and highly dependent on climatic conditions. The increasing occurrence of droughts, high temperatures, and decreased rainfall has increased the need to select animals with greater adaptive and physiological capacity in the face of climatic stress. This study evaluated the expression of physiological and adaptive responses to heat stress in one-year-old castrated male calves belonging to five beef breeds: Angus, Hereford, Brangus, Braford, and Tulianguy. The experiment was conducted during the summer of 2023–2024 in Paysandú, Uruguay, under field conditions. Rectal temperature (RT), respiratory rate (RR), and surface temperatures on the forehead and flank were recorded under three levels of wind- and radiation-adjusted temperature and humidity index (THI hadj = 75, 85, and 101). A total of 46 animals were evaluated. Environmental data were obtained using an automatic weather station, and physiological variables were analyzed using repeated measures models, considering breed, THIhadj value, and their interaction as fixed effects. The results showed a significant increase in all physiological variables as THIhadj increased. The Angus and Hereford breeds ( Bos taurus ) had the highest RT values (and RR, especially under THI hadj = 101 conditions), indicating greater susceptibility to heat stress. In contrast, Brangus, Braford, and Tulianguy (composite or adapted breeds with Bos indicus influence) showed more stable responses, confirming greater thermal resilience. These findings reinforce the importance of selecting climate-adapted animal biotypes to achieve sustainable livestock systems in hot and variable environments such as northern Uruguay. Heat tolerance THI adjusted Beef cattle breeds Bos indicus Bos Taurus Thermoregulation Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 Introduction The Uruguayan livestock system is characterized as pastoral, open-air, and sustained by natural pastures, which depend largely on the weather or the “degree of exposure” of natural field production and subsequent meat production. In northern Uruguay, livestock production systems have been experiencing significant drought problems over the years as a result of high air temperatures, heat waves, and low rainfall. In northern Uruguay, livestock systems should consider using genetic selection based on adaptation, resistance, and climate resilience to increase sustainability, productivity, and long-term reproduction, especially in the face of climate change. To characterize the environment where beef cattle are found, a temperature and humidity index is used that is associated with wind speed and incident radiation (Mader et al. 2006 ; Gaughan et al. 2008 ). Increased respiratory activity is usually the first symptom of heat stress response, as cattle increase their respiratory rate and decrease their respiratory depth (thermal polypnea) to increase heat loss through the upper respiratory tract. If this mechanism is not sufficient, there will be an increase in rectal temperature, generating negative effects on productive variables (live weight gain, body condition, and milk production) and reproductive variables (Mc Dowell et al. 1976; Esquivel 2012 ). Today, there are genetic resources adapted to extreme climatic conditions, with outstanding characteristics such as resistance to parasites, heat tolerance, resistance, and feed conversion efficiency (Frisch and Vercoe 1992 , 1979 ; Bonsma 1980 ; Hohenboken et al. 2004 ). The complementarities of different genotypes through crossbreeding can contribute to the adaptation of animals to different environments. As is well known, crossbreeding with Zebu breeds such as Braford and Brangus results in hardiness in extreme environments, but this crossbreeding has a detrimental effect on meat quality. In northern Uruguay in 2008, the Tulianguy breed was created from cattle of African taurine sanga origin, with 25% Tuli, 25% Limousin, and 50% Aberdeen Angus. This breed has different coat colors ranging from fawn to brown. It is a medium to large beef biotype with adequate reproductive and productive indices based on a forage diet. It was created to enhance the qualities of the Sanga cattle component to adapt the genotype to severe environmental temperatures and resistance to endo- and ectoparasites, among other things, without losing the meat quality derived from the qualities of the Angus and Limousin breeds. Hammond et al. ( 1996 ) conducted trials with heifers to determine heat tolerance among temperate Bos taurus (Angus, Hereford), Bos indicus (Brahman), tropical Bos taurus (Senepol, Romosinuano), and reciprocal crosses of Hereford and Senepol. They found that under extreme heat conditions (THI = 85), the rectal temperature and respiratory rate of Angus (40.4°C; 69 rpm) and Hereford (40.2°C; 64 rpm) were significantly higher (p < 0.001) than Brahman (39.6°C; 36 rpm), Romosinuano (39.5°C; 55 rpm) or Senepol (39.2°C; 57 rpm). Taborda et al. ( 2018 ) observed a significant effect of genotype in the presence of atmospheric heat waves, with the Hereford breed showing higher values for respiratory rate and rectal temperature than the Bonsmara-Hereford crossbreed. The Bonsmara-Hereford crossbreed genotype showed better thermoregulation at higher temperatures compared to pure Hereford. To infer the heat tolerance index, the representative variable is rectal temperature, which is also moderately heritable. Da Silva ( 1973 ) estimated heritabilities of 0.11, (Turner 1982 ) of 0.25, and later the same author in 1984 estimated 0.33. This index can be defined as the ability to maintain a constant body temperature in a warm environment (Hammond et al. 1996 ). Gaughan et al. ( 1999 ) evaluated heat tolerance in Hereford, Brahman, Hereford x Brahman, Hereford x Boran, and Hereford x Tuli breeds. Under THI = 90 conditions, the Brahman breed had a significantly (p < 0.05) lower rectal temperature (39.0°C) than the other genotypes. The Boran and Tuli crosses had intermediate rectal temperatures (39.5°C), while the Hereford x Brahman cross had a rectal temperature of 40.0°C, and purebred Herefords had the highest rectal temperature (40.3°C). Respiratory rate increased in correlation with time only for Hereford, while for the other genotypes, it tended to rise only slightly over time. These authors report that, under high heat stress, Brahman proved to be the most tolerant breed compared to the other genotypes. Hereford×Boran, Hereford×Tuli, and Hereford×Brahman were similar, but with better heat tolerance indices than Hereford. Nienaber and Hahn ( 2007 ) estimated equivalences between respiratory rate and different categories of THI through functional relationships. Where respiratory rate values 130 breaths per minute (bpm) correspond to the normal, alert, danger, and emergency categories, respectively. This study evaluated the expression of adaptive and physiological traits in one-year-old male calves of the Braford, Brangus, Tulianguy, Hereford, and Angus breeds in northern Uruguay. Materials and Methods The study ran from December 28, 2023, to February 7, 2024, and was conducted in Paysandú, Uruguay, at a private facility (32°23'43.7“S 56°35'10.7”W). Physiological response variables were measured in summer (December to February). Three measurements were taken on December 28, 2023, January 23, 2024, and February 7, 2024, and were recorded once a day in the afternoon (beginning at 13:00 to 17:00 hs). In northern Uruguay, average summer temperatures (December to February) average 24°C, reaching highs of 41°C, with little rainfall. Daily data of recorded air temperature (AT, °C) and humidity (RH, %), global solar radiation (RAD, W m2–1), and wind speed at 2 m (WS, m s–1) were recorded with an automatic weather station. Records of automatic weather station were used to perform the temperature and humidity index (THI, Thom 1959), the adjusted THI (THI adj ). Daily and hourly automatic weather station records of air temperature and humidity were used: $$\:THI\:=\:(0.8\:\times\:\:ta\:+\:((RH/100)\:\times\:\:(ta\:-\:14.4))\:+\:46.4$$ Temperature and humidity index adjusted by wind speed and radiation (THI adj ). Using schedules and daily data on temperature, humidity, wind speed and radiation obtained from the EMA THI adj was estimated (Mader et al. 2006 ). Table 1 ITH adj ranges for the welfare of cattle raised for meat production. Normal ≤ 74 Alert 74–78 Danger 78–84 Emergency > 84 Mader et al. 2006 . In northern Uruguay, average summer temperatures (December to February) average 24°C, reaching highs of 41°C, with little rainfall. The experiment was carried out with a total of 46 castrated one-year-old males belonging to the Aberdeen Angus (n = 5), Hereford (n = 5), Braford (n = 10), Brangus (n = 10), and Tulianguy (n = 16) breeds. All animals were kept in a pasture with water, shade, and natural grass available. On the day of the physiological variable measurements, they were taken to the pens in the morning where they had water available, and measurements began at 1:00 p.m. and continued until approximately 5:00 p.m. The physiological variables measured in the animals were: rectal temperature (RT, °C) using a digital thermometer for 1 minute, surface body temperature measured on the forehead and flank (FrT, FlT, °C) using a laser surface temperature gun and respiratory rate (RR, rpm) as the number of flank movements per minute. Statistical analysis Physiological and productive variables were analyzed using a repeated measures model under a completely randomized design. The model contained breed, THI hadj , and breed × THI hadj interaction as fixed effects, and each animal's identification as a random effect. $$\:yijk\:=\:\mu\:\:+\:Bi\:+\:\delta\:ij\:+\:THIhadjk\:+\:(Bi\:\times\:\:THIhadj)\:ik\:+\:\epsilon\:ijk$$ Where y ijk is rectal temperature (RT), respiration rate (RR), Front body temperature (FrT), Flanck body temperature (FlT) / B i is Breed Braford (BD), Brangus (BA), Tulianguy (T), Hereford (H), Aberdeen Angus (A) / δ ij is random error = 0 and variance ơ 2 δ means, variance between animals (subject) within each breed, equal to the covariance between repeated THI hadj in each animal / and ε ijk is model error. The comparison of means was performed using orthogonal contrasts between breeds and within each breed on each THI hadj . Results The environmental conditions for each date on which physiological variables were measured in the animals are described in Table 2 , indicating the average air temperature and maximum values reached during the day, relative humidity, wind speed, direct solar radiation, the value of the air temperature and humidity index (ITH) adjusted daily for wind speed and solar radiation, and the value of the ITH index adjusted for wind and radiation for each hour, considering an average between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Table 2 Environmental conditions during the experimental period. Date AT., ºC ATMax., ºC RH., % WS., m/s Rad. W/m 2 THI adj THI hadj 28 Dec 25.6 33.5 67 2 495.8 80 85 23 Jan 21.7 28.6 68 3 549.2 72 75 07 Feb 30.7 38.2 61 1 512 91 101 AT., ºC = air temperature in degrees Celsius / ATMax., ºC = maximum air temperature in degrees Celsius / RH., % = relative humidity as a percentage / WS., m/s = wind speed in meters per second / Rad. W/m 2 = solar radiation Watts per square meter / THI adj : Daily temperature–humidity index (THI) adjusted for wind speed and solar radiation / THI hadj : Hourly temperature–humidity index (THI), adjusted for wind speed and solar radiation Table 2 . In summer (December to February), within the climatic period covered, 9/50 (18%) days were detected as normal according to ITH adj , where animal welfare was not compromised by the prevailing atmospheric conditions, 10/50 (20%) days were estimated to be in a state of alert (ITH adj between 74 and 78), 16/50 (32%) days were in a state of danger (ITH adj between 78 and 84), and 15/50 (30%) days were in a state of emergency (ITH adj greater than 84), reaching maximum ITH adj values of 91. Therefore, in total, within the 50 days of the summer months, the animals were subjected to 41 days with ITH adj above the critical level, feeling discomfort with the environment, modifying their physiology and behavior. In turn, 10 consecutive days before February 7, ITH adj was found to remain above 82, generating what is called a heat wave, which is determined when maximum temperatures between 34–38ºC and minimum temperatures between 21–25ºC are recorded for at least three consecutive days, which means that the animal is unable to return to normothermia at night and, as the days go by, the body heat load increases. Figure 1 . Correlation matrix showing the degree of association between physiological variables (RT, RR, FlT, FrT) and the temperature–humidity index adjusted for wind speed and solar radiation (THI adj /THI hadj ) in all animals. This indicates that this composite indicator is sensitive to environmental temperature variations, even when mitigating factors such as wind and solar radiation are taken into account. Furthermore, rectal temperature (RT) showed a strong correlation with respiratory rate (RR) (r = 0.76), suggesting a coordinated physiological response to heat stress. The moderate correlations between RT, RR, and THI hadj (r = 0.62 to 0.69) reinforce the usefulness of these variables as individual biomarkers of heat stress impact. The inclusion of wind and radiation adjustments improves the accuracy of the THI as an environmental indicator, more accurately reflecting the actual heat load perceived by the animals. Table 3 . Table 3 Effects of breed on variables related to heat tolerance in over-year males. Breed Angus (A) (n = 5) Hereford (n = 5) Braford (n = 10) Brangus (n = 10) Tulianguy (n = 16) THI hadj and variable 75 Rectal temp., °C 39,6 ± 0,2 abc 39,4 ± 0,2 abc 39,6 ± 0,1 abc 39,3 ± 0,1 a 39,6 ± 0,1 abc Respiration rate, bpm 54,8 ± 4,9 abc 45,8 ± 4,9 a 47,2 ± 3,5 a 50,3 ± 3,5 a 49,9 ± 2,7 a Temp., Front, °C 39,2 ± 0,7 abc 37,8 ± 0,7 ab 37,8 ± 0,5 a 38,6 ± 0,5 ab 38,4 ± 0,4 a Temp., Flank, °C 36,9 ± 0,5 abc 36,4 ± 0,5 ab 36,3 ± 0,3 a 36,6 ± 0,3 a 36,4 ± 0,3 a 85 Rectal temp., °C 40,0 ± 0,2 abcd 40,0 ± 0,2 abcd 39,6 ± 0,1 abc 39,2 ± 0,1 a 39,4 ± 0,1 ab Respiration rate, bpm 66,4 ± 4,5 abcde 52,3 ± 5,5 abc 52,1 ± 3,6 ab 49,8 ± 3,5 a 52,3 ± 2,8 a Temp., Front, °C 41,3 ± 0,7 bcd 39,0 ± 0,8 abc 37,8 ± 0,6 a 40,0 ± 0,5 abc 37,7 ± 0,4 a Temp., Flank, °C 39,5 ± 0,5 def 39,1 ± 0,5 cde 37,3 ± 0,4 abc 38,2 ± 0,3 bcd 37,5 ± 0,3 abc 101 Rectal temp., °C 41,6 ± 0,2 f 41,1 ± 0,2 ef 40,2 ± 0,1 cd 40,1 ± 0,1 bcd 40,7 ± 0,1 de Respiration rate, bpm 83,0 ± 4,9 de 89,8 ± 4,9 e 68,2 ± 3,5 bcd 69,7 ± 3,5 cde 76,5 ± 2,7 de Temp., Front, °C 41,9 ± 0,7 cd 41,7 ± 0,7 cd 42,2 ± 0,5 cd 42,0 ± 0,5 cd 42,4 ± 0,4 d Temp., Flank, °C 41,1 ± 0,5 ef 40,8 ± 0,5 ef 41,2 ± 0,3 ef 41,3 ± 0,3 f 40,9 ± 0,3 ef Least squares means by THIhadj and variable / a, b, c, d, e, f. Tukey grouping letters (also referred to as significance letters or compact letter displays) are used to summarize the results of post hoc multiple comparisons following an ANOVA, most commonly based on Tukey’s Honest Significant Difference (HSD) test. These letters are assigned to group means to indicate statistical differences: means that share the same letter are not significantly different, while means with different letters differ significantly at the specified significance level (typically α = 0.05). This method facilitates the interpretation and visualization of pairwise comparisons among treatment groups. / RT, °C rectal temperature in degrees Celsius. / RR, bpm, respiratory rate, flank movements indicating breaths per minute. / FrT., °C surface body temperature measured on the animal's forehead in degrees Celsius. / FlT., °C surface body temperature measured on the animal's flank in degrees Celsius. / December 2023 to January 2024, January to February 2024. Figure 2 . All measured physiological variables—rectal temperature (RT), respiratory rate (RR), and surface temperatures (forehead [FrT] and flank [FlT])—increased significantly with higher THI hadj values (p < 0.001). Surface temperatures also showed consistent increases across THI hadj levels, particularly under high solar radiation. Clear breed-specific differences emerged across the three THI hadj levels (75, 85, and 101). At baseline conditions (THI hadj = 75), physiological variables remained within a relatively stable range for most breeds. However, as heat stress intensified, divergence became more pronounced. The physiological differences between cattle breeds became apparent as the wind speed-adjusted temperature-humidity index (THI hadj ) levels increased. As heat stress intensified (from 75 to 101), all breeds showed increases in rectal temperature, respiratory rate, and surface body temperature, consistent with previous findings highlighting the activation of thermoregulatory mechanisms under heat stress (Ferreira et al., 2006 ; Leva et al., 2005 ; Hahn, 1997). At a THI hadj = 101, the Angus and Hereford breeds showed the highest rectal temperatures (41.6 ± 0.2°C and 41.1 ± 0.2°C, respectively) and the highest respiratory rates (83.0 ± 4.9 and 89.8 ± 4.9 bpm). These values indicate high thermoregulatory strain and reduced heat tolerance. In contrast, Brangus and Braford showed more moderate increases in both parameters, suggesting a better adaptive response to heat. Both composite breeds with Bos indicus ancestry, maintained significantly lower RT and RR values under heat stress: RT = 40.1 ± 0.1°C and 40.2 ± 0.1°C; RR = 69.7 ± 3.5 and 68.2 ± 3.5 bpm, respectively. Tulianguy, a locally developed composite breed with Sanga and European taurine origins, showed intermediate responses (RT = 40.7 ± 0.1°C; RR = 76.5 ± 2.7 bpm), suggesting better adaptation than Bos taurus breeds but slightly less tolerance than the crossbreds. The consistency of this trend across breeds, despite individual variability (as indicated by standard errors), indicates that response variables such as rectal temperature and respiratory rate vary according to the temperature and humidity index, and, in turn, body temperature measured on the forehead and flank are highly related to direct incident radiation. This reinforces the value of composite breeds adapted for livestock production in environments increasingly challenged by climate variability, such as northern Uruguay. Discussion This study provides evidence of significant physiological variation among beef cattle breeds when exposed to natural summer heat stress in northern Uruguay. The high frequency of days with adjusted temperature–humidity index (THI hadj ) values exceeding 84 reflects an increasingly challenging thermal environment for livestock. This is particularly critical during heat waves, where prolonged exposure limits nocturnal recovery and amplifies the physiological burden. The elevation of rectal temperature (RT) and respiratory rate (RR) under heat stress is a well-documented thermoregulatory response (Hahn 1999; McDowell et al. 1976 ). An increase in RR serves as the first line of defense by enhancing evaporative heat loss via thermal polypnea. However, as heat load persists or intensifies, RR alone becomes insufficient, leading to internal heat accumulation and elevated RT. This was evident in Angus and Hereford calves, which surpassed 41°C in RT and 80 bpm in RR at THI hadj = 101. These findings are consistent with previous studies reporting higher heat stress susceptibility in Bos taurus breeds, which is attributed to physiological traits such as lower sweat gland density, thicker subcutaneous fat layers, and reduced skin surface area for heat dissipation (Bonsma 1980 ; Gaughan et al. 1999 ; Foster et al. 2009 ). In contrast, composite breeds such as Brangus and Braford exhibited improved physiological resilience, confirming the adaptive value of Bos indicus introgression (Frisch & Vercoe 1992 ; Finch 1986 ). Their lower RR and RT across all THI hadj levels suggest more efficient thermoregulation, likely due to enhanced sweating capacity, thinner skin, and better behavioral adaptation to heat. Similarly, Tulianguy calves displayed intermediate physiological responses, which may reflect the contribution of the Sanga breed (Tuli) in their genetic background—known for its heat tolerance and resistance to parasites (Hohenboken et al. 2004 ). Although not as heat-tolerant as Braford or Brangus, Tulianguy showed stable physiological indicators across varying THI hadj levels, suggesting potential suitability for production systems exposed to thermal variability. The breed's genetic composition—approximately 50% Angus, 25% Tuli (African taurine), and 25% Limousin—results in a predominantly taurine background (> 75%). This likely explains their relatively higher RT and RR compared to synthetic breeds, while still exhibiting better thermotolerance than purebred Angus and Hereford. The observed intermediate thermoregulatory response illustrates the balance between heat resilience traits inherited from Tuli and productivity traits (e.g., growth, carcass quality) contributed by Angus and Limousin. Overall, the findings reinforce the importance of incorporating adaptive traits into breeding strategies for beef cattle in subtropical environments. The use of a heat index adjusted for wind and solar radiation (THI hadj ) provided a more accurate estimate of actual heat load and improved the interpretation of physiological responses (Mader et al. 2006 ; Gaughan et al. 2008 ). In addition, surface body temperature measurements—particularly at the flank and forehead—showed strong correlations with RT. These results suggest their potential as non-invasive proxies for monitoring heat stress, particularly in conjunction with infrared thermography technologies. Conclusions This study demonstrated that physiological responses to heat stress vary significantly among cattle breeds under increasing levels of the adjusted heat stress index (THI hadj ). Purebred Bos taurus breeds, such as Angus and Hereford, exhibited higher rectal temperatures (RT), respiratory rates (RR), and surface temperatures (FlT and FrT), indicating greater susceptibility to heat strees. In contrast, composite breeds such as Brangus, Braford, and Tulianguy, with genetic components of Bos indicus or adapted to hot climates, showed more moderate responses, reflecting greater thermal resilience. The marked breed differences in physiological response to environmental heat stress highlight the importance of selecting heat-resilient genotypes. Crossbred animals with Bos indicus or Sanga ancestry (Brangus, Braford, Tulianguy) are more suitable for sustainable beef production in hot, variable climates like northern Uruguay, where the frequency and intensity of heat waves are expected to increase due to climate change. Declarations Author Contributions Paula Batista conceived and designed the study, performed the data collection and statistical analysis, and prepared the manuscript. Funding This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. Ethics Approval The experimental protocol was approved by the Animal Ethics Committee (CEUA) of the Faculty of Agronomy, University of the Republic (Uruguay), under approval number 1795 , as part of the project entitled “Evaluation of climate-resilient, adapted, and resistant genotypes in Uruguay.” Data Availability The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. Competing Interests The author declares that there are no relevant financial or non-financial competing interests. Additional Information Correspondence and requests for materials should be addressed to Paula Batista ( [email protected] ). Statement on References The references cited in this manuscript have been carefully reviewed and are complete, up to date, and accurately linked to the content of the text. All citations in the text correspond to entries in the reference list and vice versa References Bonsma, J. C. 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Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 27 Jan, 2026 Read the published version in Tropical Animal Health and Production → Version 1 posted Reviewers agreed at journal 14 Jul, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 13 Jul, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 08 Jul, 2025 First submitted to journal 03 Jul, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-7014575","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":484819845,"identity":"1ee0d444-e2cd-4500-ba58-79111a734439","order_by":0,"name":"Paula A. Batista Taborda","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA20lEQVRIiWNgGAWjYFACHgaGj38k5PhB7IQC4rQwNs5ssDGWbABpMSBSSzNvQ1rihgMgDjFazNnPHn/Au+OwsfH51YkfHhgwyPOLHcCvxbInL7FB8sxhObMbbzdLAB1mOHN2An4tBgdyDBsM2A4bm904uwGkJcHgNiEt598YNiSwHU7cPOPs5h/EabkBtOVgG9D7/L3biLPFcsa7xJkNZ2yMJW7wbrNIMJAg7Bdz/twDn/9UAKOy/+zmmz8qbOT5pQk5DM6SAKuUwK8cVQv/AcKqR8EoGAWjYGQCABKRS1BKyjZEAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8341-9215","institution":"Universidad de la República Facultad de Agronomía: Universidad de la Republica Facultad de Agronomia","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Paula","middleName":"A. Batista","lastName":"Taborda","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-06-30 23:42:49","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7014575/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7014575/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[{"content":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-026-04880-7","type":"published","date":"2026-01-27T15:58:31+00:00"}],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":86859925,"identity":"9756b014-d8da-4965-ae62-811b69b5d4ec","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-07-16 11:57:27","extension":"jpg","order_by":1,"title":"Figure 1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":40259,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eDegree of association between physiological variables and THI.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRT= Rectal temperature (°C) / RR = Respiration rate (bpm, breaths per minute) / FlT= Flank body temperature (°C) / FrT = Front body temperature (°C) / THI\u003csub\u003eadj\u003c/sub\u003e = Daily temperature–humidity index (THI) adjusted for wind speed and solar radiation / THI\u003csub\u003ehadj\u003c/sub\u003e =\u0026nbsp; Hourly temperature–humidity index (THI), adjusted for wind speed and solar radiation.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"Picture1.jpg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7014575/v1/b7fa1703fbbaffcd345e0ebc.jpg"},{"id":86861021,"identity":"9f223e92-62af-42ed-b12a-03ddb418fb8d","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-07-16 12:13:27","extension":"png","order_by":2,"title":"Figure 2","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":181463,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eEffects of breed on variables related to heat tolerance in over-year males.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRT lmeans = Rectal temperature (°C) / RR lsmeans = Respiration rate (bpm, breaths per minute) / FlT lsmeans = Flank body temperature (°C) / FrT lsmeans = Front body temperature (°C) / THI\u003csub\u003ehadj\u003c/sub\u003e =\u0026nbsp; Hourly temperature–humidity index (THI), adjusted for wind speed and solar radiation / Breed = A Angus, BA Brangus, BD Braford, H Hereford, T Tulianguy.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"2.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7014575/v1/702dccc259c98a8871a4490f.png"},{"id":101690691,"identity":"d621b4c6-0561-4187-a552-cdba5880b959","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-02-02 16:07:39","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":854415,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7014575/v1/c2abab0b-263a-4485-bc3d-caa86cfe7d71.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"","formattedTitle":"Assessment of adaptive and physiological trait expression in one-year-old male calves from Braford, Brangus, Tulianguy, Hereford, and Angus breeds in northern Uruguay","fulltext":[{"header":"Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe Uruguayan livestock system is characterized as pastoral, open-air, and sustained by natural pastures, which depend largely on the weather or the \u0026ldquo;degree of exposure\u0026rdquo; of natural field production and subsequent meat production. In northern Uruguay, livestock production systems have been experiencing significant drought problems over the years as a result of high air temperatures, heat waves, and low rainfall. In northern Uruguay, livestock systems should consider using genetic selection based on adaptation, resistance, and climate resilience to increase sustainability, productivity, and long-term reproduction, especially in the face of climate change. To characterize the environment where beef cattle are found, a temperature and humidity index is used that is associated with wind speed and incident radiation (Mader et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2006\u003c/span\u003e; Gaughan et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2008\u003c/span\u003e). Increased respiratory activity is usually the first symptom of heat stress response, as cattle increase their respiratory rate and decrease their respiratory depth (thermal polypnea) to increase heat loss through the upper respiratory tract. If this mechanism is not sufficient, there will be an increase in rectal temperature, generating negative effects on productive variables (live weight gain, body condition, and milk production) and reproductive variables (Mc Dowell et al. 1976; Esquivel \u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2012\u003c/span\u003e). Today, there are genetic resources adapted to extreme climatic conditions, with outstanding characteristics such as resistance to parasites, heat tolerance, resistance, and feed conversion efficiency (Frisch and Vercoe \u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1992\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1979\u003c/span\u003e; Bonsma \u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1980\u003c/span\u003e; Hohenboken et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2004\u003c/span\u003e). The complementarities of different genotypes through crossbreeding can contribute to the adaptation of animals to different environments. As is well known, crossbreeding with Zebu breeds such as Braford and Brangus results in hardiness in extreme environments, but this crossbreeding has a detrimental effect on meat quality. In northern Uruguay in 2008, the Tulianguy breed was created from cattle of African taurine sanga origin, with 25% Tuli, 25% Limousin, and 50% Aberdeen Angus. This breed has different coat colors ranging from fawn to brown. It is a medium to large beef biotype with adequate reproductive and productive indices based on a forage diet. It was created to enhance the qualities of the Sanga cattle component to adapt the genotype to severe environmental temperatures and resistance to endo- and ectoparasites, among other things, without losing the meat quality derived from the qualities of the Angus and Limousin breeds. Hammond et al. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1996\u003c/span\u003e) conducted trials with heifers to determine heat tolerance among temperate Bos taurus (Angus, Hereford), Bos indicus (Brahman), tropical Bos taurus (Senepol, Romosinuano), and reciprocal crosses of Hereford and Senepol. They found that under extreme heat conditions (THI\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;85), the rectal temperature and respiratory rate of Angus (40.4\u0026deg;C; 69 rpm) and Hereford (40.2\u0026deg;C; 64 rpm) were significantly higher (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001) than Brahman (39.6\u0026deg;C; 36 rpm), Romosinuano (39.5\u0026deg;C; 55 rpm) or Senepol (39.2\u0026deg;C; 57 rpm). Taborda et al. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR19\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e) observed a significant effect of genotype in the presence of atmospheric heat waves, with the Hereford breed showing higher values for respiratory rate and rectal temperature than the Bonsmara-Hereford crossbreed. The Bonsmara-Hereford crossbreed genotype showed better thermoregulation at higher temperatures compared to pure Hereford. To infer the heat tolerance index, the representative variable is rectal temperature, which is also moderately heritable. Da Silva (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1973\u003c/span\u003e) estimated heritabilities of 0.11, (Turner \u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1982\u003c/span\u003e) of 0.25, and later the same author in 1984 estimated 0.33. This index can be defined as the ability to maintain a constant body temperature in a warm environment (Hammond et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1996\u003c/span\u003e). Gaughan et al. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1999\u003c/span\u003e) evaluated heat tolerance in Hereford, Brahman, Hereford x Brahman, Hereford x Boran, and Hereford x Tuli breeds. Under THI\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;90 conditions, the Brahman breed had a significantly (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05) lower rectal temperature (39.0\u0026deg;C) than the other genotypes. The Boran and Tuli crosses had intermediate rectal temperatures (39.5\u0026deg;C), while the Hereford x Brahman cross had a rectal temperature of 40.0\u0026deg;C, and purebred Herefords had the highest rectal temperature (40.3\u0026deg;C). Respiratory rate increased in correlation with time only for Hereford, while for the other genotypes, it tended to rise only slightly over time. These authors report that, under high heat stress, Brahman proved to be the most tolerant breed compared to the other genotypes. Hereford\u0026times;Boran, Hereford\u0026times;Tuli, and Hereford\u0026times;Brahman were similar, but with better heat tolerance indices than Hereford. Nienaber and Hahn (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2007\u003c/span\u003e) estimated equivalences between respiratory rate and different categories of THI through functional relationships. Where respiratory rate values\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;90, 90\u0026ndash;110, 110\u0026ndash;130, and \u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;130 breaths per minute (bpm) correspond to the normal, alert, danger, and emergency categories, respectively.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis study evaluated the expression of adaptive and physiological traits in one-year-old male calves of the Braford, Brangus, Tulianguy, Hereford, and Angus breeds in northern Uruguay.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Materials and Methods","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe study ran from December 28, 2023, to February 7, 2024, and was conducted in Paysand\u0026uacute;, Uruguay, at a private facility (32\u0026deg;23\u0026apos;43.7\u0026ldquo;S 56\u0026deg;35\u0026apos;10.7\u0026rdquo;W).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhysiological response variables were measured in summer (December to February). Three measurements were taken on December 28, 2023, January 23, 2024, and February 7, 2024, and were recorded once a day in the afternoon (beginning at 13:00 to 17:00 hs). In northern Uruguay, average summer temperatures (December to February) average 24\u0026deg;C, reaching highs of 41\u0026deg;C, with little rainfall.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDaily data of recorded air temperature (AT, \u0026deg;C) and humidity (RH, %), global solar radiation (RAD, W m2\u0026ndash;1), and wind speed at 2 m (WS, m s\u0026ndash;1) were recorded with an automatic weather station. Records of automatic weather station were used to perform the temperature and humidity index (THI, Thom 1959), the adjusted THI (THI\u003csub\u003eadj\u003c/sub\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDaily and hourly automatic weather station records of air temperature and humidity were used:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"Equa\" class=\"Equation\"\u003e\n \u003cdiv class=\"mathdisplay\" id=\"FileID_Equa\" name=\"EquationSource\"\u003e$$\\:THI\\:=\\:(0.8\\:\\times\\:\\:ta\\:+\\:((RH/100)\\:\\times\\:\\:(ta\\:-\\:14.4))\\:+\\:46.4$$\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTemperature and humidity index adjusted by wind speed and radiation (THI\u003csub\u003eadj\u003c/sub\u003e). Using schedules and daily data on temperature, humidity, wind speed and radiation obtained from the EMA THI\u003csub\u003eadj\u003c/sub\u003e was estimated (Mader et al. \u003cspan class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2006\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"Equb\" class=\"Equation\"\u003e\n \u003cdiv class=\"mathdisplay\" id=\"FileID_Equb\" name=\"EquationSource\"\u003e\u003cimg 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\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"Equc\" class=\"Equation\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\n \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n \u003ctable id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e\n \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\n \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 1\u003c/div\u003e\n \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eITH\u003csub\u003eadj\u003c/sub\u003e ranges for the welfare of cattle raised for meat production.\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/div\u003e\n \u003c/caption\u003e\n \u003cthead\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNormal\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/th\u003e\n \u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026le;\u0026thinsp;74\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/th\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/thead\u003e\n \u003ctbody\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eAlert\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e74\u0026ndash;78\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eDanger\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e78\u0026ndash;84\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eEmergency\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;84\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tbody\u003e\n \u003ctfoot\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd colspan=\"2\"\u003eMader et al. \u003cspan class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2006\u003c/span\u003e.\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tfoot\u003e\n \u003c/table\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn northern Uruguay, average summer temperatures (December to February) average 24\u0026deg;C, reaching highs of 41\u0026deg;C, with little rainfall.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe experiment was carried out with a total of 46 castrated one-year-old males belonging to the Aberdeen Angus (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;5), Hereford (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;5), Braford (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;10), Brangus (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;10), and Tulianguy (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;16) breeds. All animals were kept in a pasture with water, shade, and natural grass available. On the day of the physiological variable measurements, they were taken to the pens in the morning where they had water available, and measurements began at 1:00 p.m. and continued until approximately 5:00 p.m.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe physiological variables measured in the animals were: rectal temperature (RT, \u0026deg;C) using a digital thermometer for 1 minute, surface body temperature measured on the forehead and flank (FrT, FlT, \u0026deg;C) using a laser surface temperature gun and respiratory rate (RR, rpm) as the number of flank movements per minute.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"Sec3\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\n \u003ch2\u003eStatistical analysis\u003c/h2\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ePhysiological and productive variables were analyzed using a repeated measures model under a completely randomized design. The model contained breed, THI\u003csub\u003ehadj\u003c/sub\u003e, and breed \u0026times; THI\u003csub\u003ehadj\u003c/sub\u003e interaction as fixed effects, and each animal\u0026apos;s identification as a random effect.\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cdiv id=\"Equd\" class=\"Equation\"\u003e\n \u003cdiv class=\"mathdisplay\" id=\"FileID_Equd\" name=\"EquationSource\"\u003e$$\\:yijk\\:=\\:\\mu\\:\\:+\\:Bi\\:+\\:\\delta\\:ij\\:+\\:THIhadjk\\:+\\:(Bi\\:\\times\\:\\:THIhadj)\\:ik\\:+\\:\\epsilon\\:ijk$$\u003c/div\u003e\n \u003c/div\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eWhere \u003cem\u003ey\u003c/em\u003e\u003csub\u003e\u003cem\u003eijk\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sub\u003e is rectal temperature (RT), respiration rate (RR), Front body temperature (FrT), Flanck body temperature (FlT) / \u003cem\u003eB\u003c/em\u003e\u003csub\u003e\u003cem\u003ei\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sub\u003e is Breed Braford (BD), Brangus (BA), Tulianguy (T), Hereford (H), Aberdeen Angus (A) / \u003cem\u003e\u0026delta;\u003c/em\u003e\u003csub\u003e\u003cem\u003eij\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sub\u003e is random error\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0 and variance ơ\u003csup\u003e2\u003c/sup\u003e \u0026delta; means, variance between animals (subject) within each breed, equal to the covariance between repeated THI\u003csub\u003ehadj\u003c/sub\u003e in each animal / and \u003cem\u003e\u0026epsilon;\u003c/em\u003e\u003csub\u003e\u003cem\u003eijk\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sub\u003e is model error. The comparison of means was performed using orthogonal contrasts between breeds and within each breed on each THI\u003csub\u003ehadj\u003c/sub\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Results","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe environmental conditions for each date on which physiological variables were measured in the animals are described in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e, indicating the average air temperature and maximum values reached during the day, relative humidity, wind speed, direct solar radiation, the value of the air temperature and humidity index (ITH) adjusted daily for wind speed and solar radiation, and the value of the ITH index adjusted for wind and radiation for each hour, considering an average between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab2\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 2\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eEnvironmental conditions during the experimental period.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"8\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c8\" colnum=\"8\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eDate\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAT., \u0026ordm;C\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eATMax., \u0026ordm;C\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eRH., %\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eWS., m/s\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eRad. W/m\u003csup\u003e2\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTHI\u003csub\u003eadj\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTHI\u003csub\u003ehadj\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e28 Dec\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e25.6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e33.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e67\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e495.8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e80\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e85\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e23 Jan\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e21.7\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e28.6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e68\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e549.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e72\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e75\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e07 Feb\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e30.7\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e38.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e61\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e512\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e91\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e101\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003ctfoot\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"8\"\u003eAT., \u0026ordm;C\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;air temperature in degrees Celsius / ATMax., \u0026ordm;C\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;maximum air temperature in degrees Celsius / RH., % = relative humidity as a percentage / WS., m/s\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;wind speed in meters per second / Rad. W/m\u003csup\u003e2\u003c/sup\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;solar radiation Watts per square meter / THI\u003csub\u003eadj\u003c/sub\u003e: Daily temperature\u0026ndash;humidity index (THI) adjusted for wind speed and solar radiation / THI\u003csub\u003ehadj\u003c/sub\u003e: Hourly temperature\u0026ndash;humidity index (THI), adjusted for wind speed and solar radiation\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tfoot\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTable\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn summer (December to February), within the climatic period covered, 9/50 (18%) days were detected as normal according to ITH\u003csub\u003eadj\u003c/sub\u003e, where animal welfare was not compromised by the prevailing atmospheric conditions, 10/50 (20%) days were estimated to be in a state of alert (ITH\u003csub\u003eadj\u003c/sub\u003e between 74 and 78), 16/50 (32%) days were in a state of danger (ITH\u003csub\u003eadj\u003c/sub\u003e between 78 and 84), and 15/50 (30%) days were in a state of emergency (ITH\u003csub\u003eadj\u003c/sub\u003e greater than 84), reaching maximum ITH\u003csub\u003eadj\u003c/sub\u003e values of 91. Therefore, in total, within the 50 days of the summer months, the animals were subjected to 41 days with ITH\u003csub\u003eadj\u003c/sub\u003e above the critical level, feeling discomfort with the environment, modifying their physiology and behavior.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn turn, 10 consecutive days before February 7, ITH\u003csub\u003eadj\u003c/sub\u003e was found to remain above 82, generating what is called a heat wave, which is determined when maximum temperatures between 34\u0026ndash;38\u0026ordm;C and minimum temperatures between 21\u0026ndash;25\u0026ordm;C are recorded for at least three consecutive days, which means that the animal is unable to return to normothermia at night and, as the days go by, the body heat load increases.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFigure \u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCorrelation matrix showing the degree of association between physiological variables (RT, RR, FlT, FrT) and the temperature\u0026ndash;humidity index adjusted for wind speed and solar radiation (THI\u003csub\u003eadj\u003c/sub\u003e/THI\u003csub\u003ehadj\u003c/sub\u003e) in all animals. This indicates that this composite indicator is sensitive to environmental temperature variations, even when mitigating factors such as wind and solar radiation are taken into account. Furthermore, rectal temperature (RT) showed a strong correlation with respiratory rate (RR) (r\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.76), suggesting a coordinated physiological response to heat stress.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe moderate correlations between RT, RR, and THI\u003csub\u003ehadj\u003c/sub\u003e (r\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.62 to 0.69) reinforce the usefulness of these variables as individual biomarkers of heat stress impact. The inclusion of wind and radiation adjustments improves the accuracy of the THI as an environmental indicator, more accurately reflecting the actual heat load perceived by the animals.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTable\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab3\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 3\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eEffects of breed on variables related to heat tolerance in over-year males.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"12\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c8\" colnum=\"8\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c9\" colnum=\"9\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c10\" colnum=\"10\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c11\" colnum=\"11\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c12\" colnum=\"12\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"8\" nameend=\"c12\" namest=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eBreed\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAngus (A) (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;5)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c6\" namest=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eHereford (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;5)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eBraford (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;10)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c10\" namest=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eBrangus (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;10)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c12\" namest=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTulianguy (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;16)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTHI\u003csub\u003ehadj\u003c/sub\u003e and variable\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e75\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eRectal temp., \u0026deg;C\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e39,6\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eabc\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e39,4\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eabc\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e39,6\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eabc\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e39,3\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ea\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e39,6\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eabc\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eRespiration rate, bpm\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e54,8\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;4,9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eabc\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e45,8\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;4,9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ea\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e47,2\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3,5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ea\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e50,3\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3,5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ea\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e49,9\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2,7\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ea\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTemp., Front, \u0026deg;C\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e39,2\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,7\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eabc\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e37,8\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,7\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eab\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e37,8\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ea\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e38,6\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eab\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e38,4\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ea\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTemp., Flank, \u0026deg;C\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e36,9\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eabc\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e36,4\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eab\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e36,3\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ea\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e36,6\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ea\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e36,4\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ea\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e85\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eRectal temp., \u0026deg;C\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e40,0\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eabcd\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e40,0\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eabcd\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e39,6\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eabc\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e39,2\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ea\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e39,4\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eab\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eRespiration rate, bpm\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e66,4\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;4,5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eabcde\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e52,3\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;5,5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eabc\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e52,1\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3,6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eab\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e49,8\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3,5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ea\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e52,3\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2,8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ea\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTemp., Front, \u0026deg;C\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e41,3\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,7\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ebcd\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e39,0\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eabc\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e37,8\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ea\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e40,0\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eabc\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e37,7\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ea\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTemp., Flank, \u0026deg;C\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e39,5\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003edef\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e39,1\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ecde\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e37,3\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eabc\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e38,2\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ebcd\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e37,5\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eabc\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e101\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eRectal temp., \u0026deg;C\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e41,6\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ef\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e41,1\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eef\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e40,2\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ecd\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e40,1\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ebcd\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e40,7\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ede\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eRespiration rate, bpm\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e83,0\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;4,9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ede\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e89,8\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;4,9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ee\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e68,2\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3,5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ebcd\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e69,7\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3,5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ecde\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e76,5\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2,7\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ede\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTemp., Front, \u0026deg;C\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e41,9\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,7\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ecd\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e41,7\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,7\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ecd\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e42,2\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ecd\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e42,0\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ecd\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e42,4\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ed\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTemp., Flank, \u0026deg;C\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e41,1\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eef\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e40,8\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eef\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e41,2\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eef\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e41,3\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ef\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e40,9\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eef\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003ctfoot\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"12\"\u003eLeast squares means by THIhadj and variable / a, b, c, d, e, f. Tukey grouping letters (also referred to as significance letters or compact letter displays) are used to summarize the results of post hoc multiple comparisons following an ANOVA, most commonly based on Tukey\u0026rsquo;s Honest Significant Difference (HSD) test. These letters are assigned to group means to indicate statistical differences: means that share the same letter are not significantly different, while means with different letters differ significantly at the specified significance level (typically α\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.05). This method facilitates the interpretation and visualization of pairwise comparisons among treatment groups. / RT, \u0026deg;C rectal temperature in degrees Celsius. / RR, bpm, respiratory rate, flank movements indicating breaths per minute. / FrT., \u0026deg;C surface body temperature measured on the animal's forehead in degrees Celsius. / FlT., \u0026deg;C surface body temperature measured on the animal's flank in degrees Celsius. / December 2023 to January 2024, January to February 2024.\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tfoot\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFigure \u003cspan refid=\"Fig2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAll measured physiological variables\u0026mdash;rectal temperature (RT), respiratory rate (RR), and surface temperatures (forehead [FrT] and flank [FlT])\u0026mdash;increased significantly with higher THI\u003csub\u003ehadj\u003c/sub\u003e values (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001). Surface temperatures also showed consistent increases across THI\u003csub\u003ehadj\u003c/sub\u003e levels, particularly under high solar radiation.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eClear breed-specific differences emerged across the three THI\u003csub\u003ehadj\u003c/sub\u003e levels (75, 85, and 101). At baseline conditions (THI\u003csub\u003ehadj\u003c/sub\u003e = 75), physiological variables remained within a relatively stable range for most breeds. However, as heat stress intensified, divergence became more pronounced.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe physiological differences between cattle breeds became apparent as the wind speed-adjusted temperature-humidity index (THI\u003csub\u003ehadj\u003c/sub\u003e) levels increased. As heat stress intensified (from 75 to 101), all breeds showed increases in rectal temperature, respiratory rate, and surface body temperature, consistent with previous findings highlighting the activation of thermoregulatory mechanisms under heat stress (Ferreira et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2006\u003c/span\u003e; Leva et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2005\u003c/span\u003e; Hahn, 1997).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAt a THI\u003csub\u003ehadj\u003c/sub\u003e = 101, the Angus and Hereford breeds showed the highest rectal temperatures (41.6\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.2\u0026deg;C and 41.1\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.2\u0026deg;C, respectively) and the highest respiratory rates (83.0\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;4.9 and 89.8\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;4.9 bpm). These values indicate high thermoregulatory strain and reduced heat tolerance.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn contrast, Brangus and Braford showed more moderate increases in both parameters, suggesting a better adaptive response to heat. Both composite breeds with \u003cem\u003eBos indicus\u003c/em\u003e ancestry, maintained significantly lower RT and RR values under heat stress: RT\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;40.1\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.1\u0026deg;C and 40.2\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.1\u0026deg;C; RR\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;69.7\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3.5 and 68.2\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3.5 bpm, respectively.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTulianguy, a locally developed composite breed with \u003cem\u003eSanga\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eEuropean taurine\u003c/em\u003e origins, showed intermediate responses (RT\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;40.7\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.1\u0026deg;C; RR\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;76.5\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.7 bpm), suggesting better adaptation than \u003cem\u003eBos taurus\u003c/em\u003e breeds but slightly less tolerance than the crossbreds.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe consistency of this trend across breeds, despite individual variability (as indicated by standard errors), indicates that response variables such as rectal temperature and respiratory rate vary according to the temperature and humidity index, and, in turn, body temperature measured on the forehead and flank are highly related to direct incident radiation. This reinforces the value of composite breeds adapted for livestock production in environments increasingly challenged by climate variability, such as northern Uruguay.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Discussion","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis study provides evidence of significant physiological variation among beef cattle breeds when exposed to natural summer heat stress in northern Uruguay. The high frequency of days with adjusted temperature\u0026ndash;humidity index (THI\u003csub\u003ehadj\u003c/sub\u003e) values exceeding 84 reflects an increasingly challenging thermal environment for livestock. This is particularly critical during heat waves, where prolonged exposure limits nocturnal recovery and amplifies the physiological burden.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe elevation of rectal temperature (RT) and respiratory rate (RR) under heat stress is a well-documented thermoregulatory response (Hahn 1999; McDowell et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1976\u003c/span\u003e). An increase in RR serves as the first line of defense by enhancing evaporative heat loss via thermal polypnea. However, as heat load persists or intensifies, RR alone becomes insufficient, leading to internal heat accumulation and elevated RT. This was evident in Angus and Hereford calves, which surpassed 41\u0026deg;C in RT and 80 bpm in RR at THI\u003csub\u003ehadj\u003c/sub\u003e = 101.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThese findings are consistent with previous studies reporting higher heat stress susceptibility in \u003cem\u003eBos taurus\u003c/em\u003e breeds, which is attributed to physiological traits such as lower sweat gland density, thicker subcutaneous fat layers, and reduced skin surface area for heat dissipation (Bonsma \u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1980\u003c/span\u003e; Gaughan et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1999\u003c/span\u003e; Foster et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2009\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn contrast, composite breeds such as Brangus and Braford exhibited improved physiological resilience, confirming the adaptive value of \u003cem\u003eBos indicus\u003c/em\u003e introgression (Frisch \u0026amp; Vercoe \u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1992\u003c/span\u003e; Finch \u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1986\u003c/span\u003e). Their lower RR and RT across all THI\u003csub\u003ehadj\u003c/sub\u003e levels suggest more efficient thermoregulation, likely due to enhanced sweating capacity, thinner skin, and better behavioral adaptation to heat.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSimilarly, Tulianguy calves displayed intermediate physiological responses, which may reflect the contribution of the Sanga breed (Tuli) in their genetic background\u0026mdash;known for its heat tolerance and resistance to parasites (Hohenboken et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2004\u003c/span\u003e). Although not as heat-tolerant as Braford or Brangus, Tulianguy showed stable physiological indicators across varying THI\u003csub\u003ehadj\u003c/sub\u003e levels, suggesting potential suitability for production systems exposed to thermal variability.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe breed's genetic composition\u0026mdash;approximately 50% Angus, 25% Tuli (African taurine), and 25% Limousin\u0026mdash;results in a predominantly taurine background (\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;75%). This likely explains their relatively higher RT and RR compared to synthetic breeds, while still exhibiting better thermotolerance than purebred Angus and Hereford. The observed intermediate thermoregulatory response illustrates the balance between heat resilience traits inherited from Tuli and productivity traits (e.g., growth, carcass quality) contributed by Angus and Limousin.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOverall, the findings reinforce the importance of incorporating adaptive traits into breeding strategies for beef cattle in subtropical environments. The use of a heat index adjusted for wind and solar radiation (THI\u003csub\u003ehadj\u003c/sub\u003e) provided a more accurate estimate of actual heat load and improved the interpretation of physiological responses (Mader et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2006\u003c/span\u003e; Gaughan et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2008\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn addition, surface body temperature measurements\u0026mdash;particularly at the flank and forehead\u0026mdash;showed strong correlations with RT. These results suggest their potential as non-invasive proxies for monitoring heat stress, particularly in conjunction with infrared thermography technologies.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Conclusions","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis study demonstrated that physiological responses to heat stress vary significantly among cattle breeds under increasing levels of the adjusted heat stress index (THI\u003csub\u003ehadj\u003c/sub\u003e). Purebred \u003cem\u003eBos taurus\u003c/em\u003e breeds, such as Angus and Hereford, exhibited higher rectal temperatures (RT), respiratory rates (RR), and surface temperatures (FlT and FrT), indicating greater susceptibility to heat strees. In contrast, composite breeds such as Brangus, Braford, and Tulianguy, with genetic components of \u003cem\u003eBos indicus\u003c/em\u003e or adapted to hot climates, showed more moderate responses, reflecting greater thermal resilience.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe marked breed differences in physiological response to environmental heat stress highlight the importance of selecting heat-resilient genotypes. Crossbred animals with \u003cem\u003eBos indicus\u003c/em\u003e or \u003cem\u003eSanga\u003c/em\u003e ancestry (Brangus, Braford, Tulianguy) are more suitable for sustainable beef production in hot, variable climates like northern Uruguay, where the frequency and intensity of heat waves are expected to increase due to climate change.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor Contributions\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePaula Batista conceived and designed the study, performed the data collection and statistical analysis, and prepared the manuscript.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFunding\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEthics Approval\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe experimental protocol was approved by the Animal Ethics Committee (CEUA) of the Faculty of Agronomy, University of the Republic (Uruguay), under approval number \u003cstrong\u003e1795\u003c/strong\u003e, as part of the project entitled \u003cem\u003e“Evaluation of climate-resilient, adapted, and resistant genotypes in Uruguay.”\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eData Availability\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompeting Interests\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe author declares that there are no relevant financial or non-financial competing interests.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAdditional Information\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCorrespondence and requests for materials should be addressed to \u003cstrong\u003ePaula Batista ([email protected]).\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStatement on References\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe references cited in this manuscript have been carefully reviewed and are complete, up to date, and accurately linked to the content of the text. 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Heritability of heat tolerance in dairy cattle. \u003cem\u003eJournal of Animal Science\u003c/em\u003e, 59(1), 26\u0026ndash;31.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":true,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":true,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"tropical-animal-health-and-production","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"trop","sideBox":"Learn more about [Tropical Animal Health and Production](https://www.springer.com/journal/11250)","snPcode":"11250","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/11250/3","title":"Tropical Animal Health and Production","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false},"keywords":"Heat tolerance, THI adjusted, Beef cattle breeds, Bos indicus, Bos Taurus, Thermoregulation","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7014575/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7014575/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eThe Uruguayan livestock system, especially in the north of the country, is characterized by being pastoral, open-air, and highly dependent on climatic conditions. The increasing occurrence of droughts, high temperatures, and decreased rainfall has increased the need to select animals with greater adaptive and physiological capacity in the face of climatic stress. This study evaluated the expression of physiological and adaptive responses to heat stress in one-year-old castrated male calves belonging to five beef breeds: Angus, Hereford, Brangus, Braford, and Tulianguy. The experiment was conducted during the summer of 2023\u0026ndash;2024 in Paysand\u0026uacute;, Uruguay, under field conditions. Rectal temperature (RT), respiratory rate (RR), and surface temperatures on the forehead and flank were recorded under three levels of wind- and radiation-adjusted temperature and humidity index (THI\u003csub\u003ehadj\u003c/sub\u003e = 75, 85, and 101). A total of 46 animals were evaluated. Environmental data were obtained using an automatic weather station, and physiological variables were analyzed using repeated measures models, considering breed, THIhadj value, and their interaction as fixed effects. The results showed a significant increase in all physiological variables as THIhadj increased. The Angus and Hereford breeds (\u003cem\u003eBos taurus\u003c/em\u003e) had the highest RT values (and RR, especially under THI\u003csub\u003ehadj\u003c/sub\u003e = 101 conditions), indicating greater susceptibility to heat stress. In contrast, Brangus, Braford, and Tulianguy (composite or adapted breeds with \u003cem\u003eBos indicus\u003c/em\u003e influence) showed more stable responses, confirming greater thermal resilience. These findings reinforce the importance of selecting climate-adapted animal biotypes to achieve sustainable livestock systems in hot and variable environments such as northern Uruguay.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Assessment of adaptive and physiological trait expression in one-year-old male calves from Braford, Brangus, Tulianguy, Hereford, and Angus breeds in northern Uruguay","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-07-16 11:57:23","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7014575/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"","date":"2025-07-14T05:28:29+00:00","index":0,"fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2025-07-14T02:42:09+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2025-07-08T09:08:15+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Tropical Animal Health and Production","date":"2025-07-03T12:10:42+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"tropical-animal-health-and-production","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"trop","sideBox":"Learn more about [Tropical Animal Health and Production](https://www.springer.com/journal/11250)","snPcode":"11250","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/11250/3","title":"Tropical Animal Health and Production","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"0f2073af-ebf7-4104-81f7-bfbf9b6c83d9","owner":[],"postedDate":"July 16th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"published-in-journal","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-02-02T16:03:56+00:00","versionOfRecord":{"articleIdentity":"rs-7014575","link":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-026-04880-7","journal":{"identity":"tropical-animal-health-and-production","isVorOnly":false,"title":"Tropical Animal Health and Production"},"publishedOn":"2026-01-27 15:58:31","publishedOnDateReadable":"January 27th, 2026"},"versionCreatedAt":"2025-07-16 11:57:23","video":"","vorDoi":"10.1007/s11250-026-04880-7","vorDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-026-04880-7","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-7014575","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-7014575","identity":"rs-7014575","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}