Using Infrared Thermography to Investigate the Influence of Temperature-Humidity Index on Thigh Skin Temperature in Dairy Cows on a Farm in Southern Bulgaria

Infrared thermography is a non-invasive and harmless method of measuring surface temperature. The aim of the present study was to test the feasibility of using infrared thermography in monitoring the influence of temperature-humidity index (THI) on thigh skin temperature in dairy cows. Correlation coefficients between measured surface temperatures and THI were close to 0.95. The results indicate that infrared thermography could be used as a tool to monitor the effect of THI on skin temperature in dairy cows.