The coat and heat retention in cattle: studies in the tropical maritime climate of Fiji

Abstract

SUMMARYHeat-tolerance tests and observations on coat shedding were made on Santa Gertrudis and Hereford heifers of similar age in the warm humid climate of Fiji.Coat shedding (which is influenced by day length) was normal in the locally bred, smooth-coated Santa Gertrudis whose heat-tolerance was good. However, the Herefords, which had come from New Zealand and had very woolly coats failed to shed properly and suffered serious heat stress.Clipping and the use of a close-fitting jute rug demonstrated the specially high heatretaining properties of a thick natural coat of cattle hair; also the special need to select animals of low coat score for the very humid tropics.