Sweating in cattle. III. Mechanism of water transportation through the skin

Abstract

Two calves (Zebu × Australian Illawara Shorthorn and Shorthorn) of about 7–8 months of age were exposed to controlled atmospheric conditions. Cutaneous evaporation from the belly area of these calves was measured by the capsule method. Records of the temperature of the skin under test and that of the air passed over the skin was also maintained.The amount of water passing through the cattle skin was proportional to the difference between the saturated water-vapour pressure at skin temperature and the water-vapour pressure in the air. Tests were made for the water-vapour pressure difference varying from 9 to 25 mm. Hg.