Effect of Climatic Conditions and Lunar Luminosity on the Mortality of Hair Sheep

Climate change, primarily driven by human activities, has a growing negative impact on animal health and welfare by modifying environmental variables such as temperature, rainfall, and the frequency of extreme weather events.These factors directly and indirectly affect livestock productivity, promote the emergence of diseases, increase mortality, and compromise food security.The objective of this study was to identify and analyze the relationship between climatic conditions and sheep mortality in the state of Yucatn, as a basis for the design of preventive technologies.Information obtained over four years from necropsies performed on the flock at the Mococh Experimental Center was used.Data were classified by cause of death, age group, year of evaluation, and quarter (season).The analyses showed no statistically significant differences (P > 0.05) between grouped causes of death and climatic variables such as average maximum-minimum ambient temperature differential (DTAMMP), rainfall (PP), and lunar luminosity level (NLL).However, when considering age groups, lambs were more susceptible to death under high precipitation (P < 0.05) and low lunar luminosity conditions (P < 0.05).Statistical differences were also identified between years evaluated for DTAMMP and NLL (P < 0.05), and between seasons, particularly between the cold season and the other seasons.It is concluded that mortality from respiratory and digestive diseases increases under conditions of extreme temperature combined with high precipitation.Furthermore, predator attacks intensify in scenarios with extreme temperatures, rainfall, and low lunar luminosity.These findings allow a better understanding of the impact of climate on sheep mortality and contribute to the development of adaptive strategies in the face of climate change.