Relationship Between Body Temperature Measured by Infrared Thermography and Rectal Temperature in Sheeps: Identifying Less-Invasive Alternative Sites to Rectal Measurement

Turgut F., Yanmaz L. E., Okur S., Ersöz U., Şenocak M. G., Gölgeli Bedir A., ...Daha Fazla

Dicle Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi, cilt.19, sa.1, ss.11-16, 2026 (TRDizin)

Özet

The measurement of body temperature is a crucial component of the clinical evaluation and provides 

the clinician with insights into the animal's health and homeostatic condition. This study included 

fourty healty female Ghezel sheep. The rectal temperature (RT) and axillary temperature (AT) were 

collected by digital thermometer. Ocular temperature (OT) and coronary band temperature (CBT) 

were assessed using infrared thermography (IRT). The Bland–Altman method was used to calculate 

the degree of agreement, with RT serving as the reference temperature. A total of 160 measurements 

were obtained from four distinct parts of the body. The mean differences and their 95% limits of 

agreement for the dfferences between RT−AT, RT−OT, and RT−CBT were 0.13°C (− 0.44°C – 0.70°C), 

1.30°C (0.06°C – 2.53°C) and 15.30°C (1.93°C – 28.66°C), respectively. The AT, OT, and CBT values were 

within ±0.5°C of RT for 55.6%, 33%, and 11.1% of sheep, respectively. AT measurement may be more 

applicable and relevant as it provides temperature readings with an easily accessible device for

clinicians and does not necessitate additional time for image interpretation and analysis findings.