Beef Cattle Thermotolerance
Climatic stress is a major limiting factor of production efficiency in beef cattle in tropical and subtropical environments and in dairy cattle throughout most of the world. This stress is expected to increase due to climate change. More than half of the cattle in the world are maintained in hot and humid environments, including about 40% of beef cows in the US. Substantial differences in thermal tolerance exist among breeds and among animals within breeds indicative of opportunities for selective improvement. For example, Bos indicus cattle exhibit increased resistance to many environmental stressors relative to Bos taurus, but tend to have slower growth, lower fertility and poor meat quality as they have not been as intensively selected for these traits as specialized Bos taurus breeds.
The use of genomic tools to produce an animal with superior ability for both thermal adaptation and food production represents an energy-efficient sustainable approach to meet the challenge of global climate change.
Sweating as a heat exchange mechanism in beef cattle
- Raluca Mateescu, Kaitlyn Sarlo Davila, Serdal Dikmen.
- The Florida Cattleman & Livestock Journal. Sept 2020, Vol. 84, No. 12, pg. PDF
Comparison of tympanic and tail temperatures in Angus and Brahman steers
- Kaitlyn Sarlo Davila, Serdal Dikmen, Eduardo Rodriguez, Tracy Scheffler, Pascal Oltenacu and R.G. Mateescu.
- The Florida Cattleman & Livestock Journal. August 2020, Vol. 84, No. 11, pg. 50-51 PDF
Genome-wide association study identifies variants associated with hair length in Brangus cattle
- Sarlo Davila K.M., A. Howell, A. Nunez, A. Orelien, V. Roe, E. Rodriguez, S. Dikmen, and R.G. Mateescu
- Animal Genetics. doi: 10.1111/age.12970 PDF
The effect of Brahman genes on body temperature of heifers on pasture under heat stress
- Kaitlyn Sarlo Davila, Serdal Dikmen, and R.G. Mateescu.
- The Florida Cattleman & Livestock Journal. July 2020, Vol. 84, No. 10 PDF
Hot or not: understanding what makes a thermotolerant heifer
- Kaitlyn Sarlo Davila, Serdal Dikmen, Peter Hansen and R.G. Mateescu.
- The Florida Cattleman & Livestock Journal. April 2020, Vol. 84, No. 7, pg. 50-51. PDF
The effect of Brahman genes on body temperature plasticity of heifers on pasture under heat stress
- Mateescu R.G., K.M. Sarlo Davila, S. Dikmen, E. Rodriguez, and P.A. Oltenacu
- J. Anim. Sci. 1:98(5):skaa126. DOI: 10.1093/jas/skaa126 PDF
Genomic research on Brahman-influenced cattle presented during Plant and Animal Genome Conference
- Raluca Mateescu and Kaitlyn Sarlo Davila
- The Florida Cattleman & Livestock Journal. March 2020, Vol. 84, No. 6, pg. 48-49. PDF
- By Becky Mills
- Gulf Coat Cattlemen.
- May 2019, pg. 33-34
Genetic parameters for hair characteristics and core body temperature in a multibreed Brahman-Angus herd.
- Article published in the Journal of Animal Science by Kaitlyn Sarlo Davila, July 2019
- Sarlo Davila K.M., H. Hamblen, P.J. Hansen, S. Dikmen, P.A. Oltenacu and R.G. Mateescu.
- Genetic parameters for hair characteristics and core body temperature in a multibreed Brahman-Angus herd.
- J. Anim. Sci. 97:3246–3252. doi: 10.1093/jas/skz188
Thermoregulatory response of Brangus heifers to naturally occurring heat exposure on pasture.
- Article published in the Journal of Animal Science by Heather Hamblen.
- Heather Hamblen, Peter J. Hansen, Adriana M. Zolini, Pascal A. Oltenacu, and Raluca G. Mateescu
- Thermoregulatory response of Brangus heifers to naturally occurring heat exposure on pasture.
- J. Anim. Sci. 2018. 96:3131-3137
Determination of the optimum contribution of Brahman genetics in an Angus- Brahman multibreed herd for regulation of body temperature during hot weather.
- Article published in the Journal of Animal Science by Serdal Dikmen. 2018
- Determination of the optimum contribution of Brahman genetics in an Angus- Brahman multibreed herd for regulation of body temperature during hot weather.
- J. Anim. Sci. 2018.96:2175–2183
Vaca viitorului
- Interview with the romanian magazine "The farm" - December 2017 (in romanian)
Impact of Hair Coat on Thermoregulation in Brangus Heifers.
- Article published in the UF ANS Beef Research Report, 2017
- Hamblen H., A. Zolini, M. Gobena, P.J. Hansen and R.G. Mateescu.
- EDIS, UF/IFAS.
Measuring Heat Adaptability in Bos Indicus
- Article published in the 2017 Fall edition of the "FRONTLINE Beef Producer"
- (pages 20 - 27) https://gobrangus.com/brangus-publications/ or available here as text or here as pdf
Vacas del futuro
- Article based on an interview with the "Quo" - September 2017 (in spanish)
Hair coat characteristics and heat exchange in beef cattle
- Article published in the Florida Cattlemen Journal, October 2017
- Heather Hamblen and Raluca Mateescu
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida
Climate change and its impact on beef cattle
- Profile published in the North America Analysis August 2017 edition - publication focusing on a number of key areas within the US and Canada such as healthcare, the environment, and science.
- You can follow the link to the publication (page 36-37) or download a pdf copy here.
UF Scientists Work to Develop Heat-Resistant 'Cow of the Future'
- Story published by IFAS News and then picked up by many media outlets including Feedstuffs and Drovers.
- Additional interviews with Digital Trends and BBC 5 live.
Breeding Climate-Smart Beef cattle
- USDA-NIFA grant - Use of genomic tools to produce an animal with superior ability for both thermal adaptation and food production represents an energy-efficient sustainable approach to meet the challenge of global climate change.
Finding the genetic basis of thermotolerance in beef cattle
- Article published in the Florida Cattlemen Journal, February 2017
- Raluca Mateescu, Peter Hansen, Serdal Dikmen*
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida and *Department of Animal Science, Uludag University