COMPARISON OF INFRARED, ELECTRONIC DIGITAL AND MERCURY-IN-GLASS THERMOMETERS: 2. RED SOKOTO GOATS

摘要

Forty eight (male=8; female=40) adult Red Sokoto goats were used in an experiment to compare accuracy of different thermometers. Body temperature (BT) was concurrently measured with electronic digital (ED), mercury-in-glass (MG) and infrared (IR) thermometers. ED and MG thermometry was taken via the rectum (TEMPd and TEMPa respectively) while the IR thermometer was used on the opening of the rectum (TEMPiR) and forehead (TEMPiH). The data were subjected to analysis of variance and Pearson correlationanalysis. Scatter diagrams were plotted to generate R squared for the relationships between the readings of the thermometers. Thermometer type had significant (P0.05) to TEMPa, but the duo were significantly higher than TEMPiR and TEMPiH. BT from IR thermometer on the forehead was significantly lower than at the opening of the rectum. There was strong positive significant (P0.05) with TEMPiH. Linear regression of TEMPd with TEMPa, TEMPiR and TEMPiH yielded R2 of 0.918, 0.269 and 0.040 respectively. Deviations from TEMPd obtained were 0.23, 0.9! and !.69oC for TEMPa, TEMPiR and TEMPiH respectively. The use IR thermometer on the forehead of RS did not yield similar reading compared to other thermometers. Temperature measurement with IR thermometer on the opening of the rectum of RSgoats seems to be more accurate than on the forehead.