Effect of shearing on the core body temperature of three breeds of Mediterranean sheep

The effects of shearing in the spring on the core body temperature were studied in three Mediterranean sheep breeds (Comisana, Barbaresca Siciliana, and Pinzirita). Prior to shearing, core body temperature averaged 38.5°C in the morning and 39.1°C in the evening. Shearing caused an elevation of over 1°C in the core body temperature of sheep for all breeds, which can be attributed to an over-reaction to the mild cold stress resulting from the loss of the fleece. The elevation in core body temperature was observed both in the morning and in the evening and lasted many weeks. Return of core body temperature to the pre-shearing level was slower in the morning than in the evening. These findings have direct implications for sheep farming in the Mediterranean region. For instance, in Sicily alone, the elevated metabolic rate (and feed intake) associated with the observed 1°C rise in core body temperature induced by shearing would require an additional annual expenditure of 8 million ε in animal feed.