Relationship Between Meteorological Factors and Utilization Rates of Free-Range Capra aegagrus hircus

Abstract

In this study, we used the thermal stress index (THI) to clarify the relationship between temperature and utilization rate (length of stay) in domestic female Japanese Saanen hybrid goats (Capra aegagrus hircus), assessing changes across three temperature ranges: high temperature, optimal temperature, and low temperature. We also analyzed the effects of meteorological changes on utilization. We found that, under high temperatures, the indoor utilization rate was 61.8% and that animals spent more time indoors than outdoors, despite higher heat stress indoors. Based on this result, we performed a correlation analysis between meteorological factors and utilization rate, but no significant relationship between solar radiation or wind speed and utilization rate was found in the high-temperature environment. It was concluded that the reason for the high indoor utilization rate is that the outdoor foraging behavior decreased and the resting behavior increased because the heat production and physical fitness consumption by the ruminant were suppressed.