Micro-Climatic Response of Temperature and Temperature-Humidity Index (THI) under Loose Versus Barn House in Murrah Buffalo Heifers

Twenty female buffalo heifers of 12-15 months age were selected from the buffalo herd maintained by Buffalo Research Centre, Department of Livestock Production and Management, College of Animal Sciences, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar. The animals were divided into four groups of 5 each on the basis of their nearness to their body weight and age. The experiment was conducted for a period of 120 days ( Ist February to 31st May ) to compare the effect of two housing systems and two feeding systems were: T1 : Conventional barn + Seasonal green fodder and concentrate mixture; T2 : Conventional barn + Hay and concentrate mixture; T3 : Loose housing + Seasonal green fodder and concentrate mixture and T4 : Loose housing + Hay and concentrate mixture. There was a significant (p<0.05) difference in evening maximum temperature between two housing systems as the maximum temperature in evening was significantly higher in loose house as compared to conventional barn, which was the main affecting factor for the Thermo-neutral or Comfort zone and ultimately affecting the Microclimate/Micro-environment of the heifers to reflect/express their optimum performance. Morning and evening THI values were non-significant between the two housing systems.