| dc.description.abstract | The objective of this study was to determine whether exercise-induced hyperthermia results in an increase in uterine temperature, as measured by an iButton temperature-measurement device inserted into the uterus, comparable to temperatures measured by a rectal thermometer or microchip with temperature-recording capability implanted in the neck. The 3 methods of measurement were examined under 4 different management conditions. The Control-pasture (Cont P) group was maintained in a pasture without man-made shelter, with the intent to measure effects of ambient temperature. The Control- No device (Cont N) group was under the same management conditions, but did not have intrauterine temperature measurement devices implanted. The Control-stall (Cont S) group was housed in individual stalls with fans in an effort to minimize the effect of environmental temperature. The Exercise (EXE) group was also housed in stalls with fans, similar to Cont S but was also subjected to 45 min of exercise each day.
The results of this study indicate that the 3 methods of temperature measurement are equally repeatable when evaluating temperatures during exercise (P<0.001). Among the treatment groups, rectal temperatures were lowest in the Cont N and Cont P groups (P<0.05). In contrast, for both the microchip and iButton data, the mares in Cont S and EXE had the lowest core temperatures (P<0.001), indicating that horses under this management type underwent the least amount of heat stress as indicated by core temperature. While rectal temperatures did not show a diurnal effect, both core temperatures (microchip and iButton) showed significant differences between times (P<0.05 and P<0.005, respectively), demonstrating a diurnal temperature effect. | en |
