Assessment of the Influence of Coat Colour on Thermoregulatory and Physical Responses to Heat Stress in Cattle under Tropical Conditions

Abba Mohammed and Kole Musa Mohammed
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Kashim Ibrahim University, P.M.B. 1122, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author’s Email: banayeyya@yahoo.com, doi.org/10.55639/607.02010078


ABSTRACT

Heat stress remains a significant constraint to cattle production across tropical regions, with impacts likely to worsen as climate patterns shift. The colour of an animal’s coat influences how much solar radiation is absorbed, which in turn affects body temperature and the animal’s capacity to cope with heat. We examined coat colour variation in three Nigerian cattle breeds; Kuri, Wadara, and Red Bororo and measured how differences in pigmentation related to rectal temperature, breathing rate, and heart rate under field conditions. Data were analysed using chi-square tests, ANOVA, and Tukey’s HSD post-hoc comparisons. Coat colour varied significantly across breeds (χ² = 59.2, p < 0.001). Kuri cattle, which tend to have lighter coats, showed lower rectal temperatures (38.4 ± 0.6°C) and respiratory rates (38.9 ± 7.2 breaths/min) than Red Bororo cattle with darker coats (39.1 ± 0.8°C and 50.7 ± 10.6 breaths/min). Both coat colour and breed had marked effects on these physiological indicators (p < 0.001), suggesting that coat pigmentation plays an important role in heat tolerance. Our results offer practical insights for breeding and management decisions aimed at improving cattle resilience as temperatures rise.

Keywords:

Tropical livestock,
Indigenous cattle,
Breed,
Climate resilience,
Physiological
responses.