Skin and core temperatures as determinants of heat production and heat loss in the goat

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Abstract
In 82 experiments on 10 goats body core temperature (T core) was altered between 35° and 42°C by external heat exchangers acting on blood temperature while skin temperature (Tskin) was maintained constant, by a circulating shower bath, at different levels between 32° and 44°C. At all skin temperatures at least fourfold increases of heat production (M) and respiratory evaporative heat loss (REHL) occurred whenT core was lowered or raised, respectively. The lower Tskin was, the higher were the thresholds ofT core, at which M or REHL exceeded resting levels. The lower Tskin was, the higher were the slopes, at which M or REHL changed per unit ofT core. At a given Tskin, the slopes decreased with increasing M or REHL, and were dependent on the range ofT core. The higher the range ofT core, the steeper changed M and REHL with changingT core, if all other variables were held constant. The results support the concept that an exponential relationship betweenT core and the rate of core temperature signals is the primary cause of the effects exerted by Tskin on the slopes, at which M or REHL change per unit ofT core.