Thermal comfort index for dairy cattle in different micro-regions of the Paraíba state, Brazil

The objective of this work to make a study of thermal comfort index in six regions of the state of Paraiba and thereby identify which region has better thermal comfort condition for dairy cattle. For this, data from the meteorological database for teaching and research at the National Institute of Meteorology of six weather stations were used, distributed in all regions of the state, from 2011 to 2014. The analysis showed region of effect (P<0.05) for the environmental variables dry bulb temperature, wet bulb temperature, relative humidity and the temperature and humidity index. There was a significant interaction (P<0.05) between the region and time of day to dry bulb temperature and temperature and moisture content. The temperature humidity index, in the regions of Brejo and Agreste are those with better conditions for thermal comfort and well-being for the creation of dairy cows in the state of Paraiba, Brazil. Environmental variables and the temperature and moisture content, in the regions of Brejo and Agreste are those with better conditions for thermal comfort and welfare for the creation of dairy cows in the Paraiba state, Brazil. High temperatures in the afternoon show that management strategies should be adopted in all regions of the state to obtain maximum productivity.