What characteristic of the Zebu hair coat helps manage thermal load?
Answer
It is relatively short and light-colored to reflect solar radiation
Zebu physiology includes adaptations centered on reflecting solar energy away from the body. Specifically, they possess a hair coat that is generally both relatively short and light-colored. This combination serves to reflect incoming solar radiation, thereby minimizing the absorption of heat directly onto the skin surface. This feature, paired with the large dewlap, enables highly efficient management of thermal load compared to their taurine counterparts.
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