title: Identification of suitable housing system for dairy cattle in North East Zone of Tamil Nadu, India, with respect to microclimate.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the suitable roofing pattern for dairy cattle in North East Zone of Tamil Nadu, India, based on micro climatic conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Initially, survey was conducted to identify and categorize the major housing patterns existing in the region for further detailed investigation. In total, 30 farmers/farms consisting of five housing types with six replicates were selected. Temperature and temperature humidity index (THI) were recorded using the maximum-minimum thermometer and digital thermo-hygrometers. The study was conducted for 1 year covering four seasons namely South West monsoon (June-August), North East monsoon (September-November), cold season (December-February), and summer season (April-May). The data were statistically analyzed using statistical package SPSS 17.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Animal shelters with cement sheets recorded the highest temperature (26.71±1.13°C) and THI (77.23±1.76) at 8.00 am, whereas the lowest temperature (24.83±1.17°C) and THI (74.54±1.72) were recorded in the thatched shed. There was significant difference (p<0.01) in temperature and THI at 8.00 am during South West monsoon and North East monsoon seasons between the housing types. During cold and summer seasons, there was no significant difference (p≥0.05) in the environmental variables among various shelter systems.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thatched housing is found to be the suitable one with respect to the climatic variables, followed by tile roof and metal roof. The cement sheet roofed housing is found to be the most unsuitable one in the region for dairy cattle.
authors.affiliation: Department of Livestock Production Management, Madras Veterinary College, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sivakumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Livestock Production Management, Madras Veterinary College, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: P T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Suraj
authors.affiliation: Department of Livestock Production Management, Madras Veterinary College, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yasotha
authors.affiliation: Department of Livestock Production Management, Madras Veterinary College, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Jayashree
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Phukon
keywords: dairy cattle; micro-climate; roofing pattern