%0 Journal Article %T Respiratory heat loss in Morada Nova sheep in Brazilian semi-arid regions %A Steffan Edward Oct¨¢vio Oliveira %A C¨ªntia Carol de Melo Costa %J Journal of Animal Behaviour and Biometeorology %D 2013 %I Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-¨¢rido %R 10.14269/2318-1265.v01n01a04 %X This study aimed to evaluate the respiratory heat loss in sheep from the equations developed for this species and its relations with meteorological variables in semi-arid regions. The respiratory heat loss (sensible and latent) was estimated through the equations in the literature for four 12-month-old male Morada Nova sheep, kept in an installation with shading of ceramic tiles and a 3-meter-high ceiling. The following environmental variables were measured: air temperature (TA), wind speed (U), relative humidity (RH) and partial vapor pressure (PP{tA}). The physiological variables measured: rectal temperature (TR) and respiratory rate (RR). Statistical analysis was performed based on regression using PROC REG procedure in SAS. The latent respiratory heat loss showed a linear and positive correlation with ambient temperature. However, the respiratory convection showed a linear and negative correlation, but with incipient values. Therefore, the latent heat loss is more important than the sensible one in the respiratory system to maintain thermoregulation of sheep in a semi-arid region of Brazil. %K respiratory convection %K respiratory evaporation %K small ruminants %K thermoregulation %U http://periodicos.ufersa.edu.br/revistas/index.php/jabb/article/view/3505/pdf_4