Estimation of average values for pulse rate, respiratory rate and rectal temperature and development of a heat stress index for adult Yankasa sheep

Records on 384 adult Yankasa sheep were studied at Shika in the sub-humid zone of Nigeria over three seasons of the year to determine the average values of pulse rate (P), respiratory rate (R) and rectal temperature (T) and also to develop a measure of susceptibility or tolerance to heat stress. Average values for P, R and T were 87.0 ± 1.96 beats/min, 59. 0 ± 3.53 breaths/min, and 39.0 ± 0.10°C respectively. There was a negative correlation between P and R (r = - 0.55) (P < 0.05), which was utilised to derive a heat stress index H: {(R/59)*(87/P)}