Thermal stress in cattle breeding in the North Caucasus: Analysis and experience of the Republic of Dagestan

Abstract

Introduction. Under high-temperature conditions, the bovine organism independently regulates its physiological and behavioral responses to maintain internal body temperature within a safe range. The Temperature-Humidity Index (THI) is an important ecological indicator, which can help to determine the degree of thermal stress. However, the impact of environmental factors on the development of cattle breeding in the specific agroclimatic conditions of the North Caucasus regions, particularly the Republic of Dagestan, where high thermal load may be a significant limiting factor, remains insufficiently studied.
Aim. To obtain new knowledge regarding the impact of environmental factors on the development of cattle breeding in the Dagestan region and to establish their relationship with the achievement of production indicators using the example of cattle breeding in the context of THI value gradations.
Materials and methods. The study is based on sources from scientific databases, statistical data from agricultural enterprises of all categories in the Republic of Dagestan, and climatic data. The assessment included calculating the THI, analyzing livestock production for slaughter in live and carcass weight, livestock rearing volumes per head, milk production and milk yield per cow, as well as total feed consumption.
Results. Conditions characteristic of heat stress in cattle were identified in the region (38.67% of the analyzed THI index values). The highest thermal load on livestock is observed in July. With an increase in the proportion of THI index values corresponding to heat stress, a certain decrease was observed in livestock production for slaughter in live and carcass weight, milk production, and milk yield per cow, alongside an increase in livestock rearing per head and feed consumption for all age and sex groups of cattle. The THI value had a significant, moderate negative correlation with the production volumes of cattle for slaughter in live and carcass weight.
Conclusion. The obtained results fill the existing gap in assessing the impact of climatic factors on livestock productivity in the conditions of Dagestan and can serve as a basis for developing adaptive technologies for cattle management in the region.

To cite: Krupin E.O., Ozdemirov A.A., Zukhrabov M.G. Thermal stress in cattle breeding in the North Caucasus: Analysis and experience of the Republic of Dagestan. Agrarian Bulletin of the North Caucasus. 2026;16(1):10-26. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.31279/2949-4796-2026-16-1-10-26