AUTHOR=Slayi Mhlangabezi , Zantsi Siphe , Mdiya Lwandiso 
  
TITLE=Microclimatic variations in daytime behavioural budgets and growth performance of communal beef cattle with contrasting coat phenotypes
  
JOURNAL=Pastoralism: Research, Policy and Practice
  
VOLUME=Volume 16 - 2026
  
YEAR=2026
  
URL=https://www.frontierspartnerships.org/journals/pastoralism-research-policy-and-practice/articles/10.3389/past.2026.17418
  
DOI=10.3389/past.2026.17418
  
ISSN=2041-7136
  
ABSTRACT=Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of thermal stress, threatening the productivity and welfare of cattle managed under extensive communal grazing systems. Although coat characteristics influence heat exchange, their associations with behavioural adaptation and performance under natural thermal conditions remain poorly understood. This prospective observational cohort study investigated the behavioural responses and performance of communally managed cattle with contrasting coat characteristics under varying thermal environmental conditions in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. A total of 120 beef cattle (predominantly indigenous crossbreds of mixed sexes) were monitored for 12 months under extensive communal grazing. Ambient temperature, relative humidity, solar radiation, black globe temperature, and Temperature–Humidity Index (THI) were recorded alongside daytime behavioural observations (08:00–16:00 h). Behavioural time budgets, physiological responses, body weight, and body condition score (BCS) were analysed using linear mixed-effects models. Increasing THI was associated with a reduction in grazing activity and increased resting, drinking frequency, walking, and shade-seeking behaviours (P < 0.001). Cattle with lighter, shorter, and smoother coats maintained higher daytime grazing activity (54.8%), a lower physiological heat load, and higher final body condition scores (3.41) than cattle with darker and denser coats (P < 0.05). The actual average daily gain (ADG) over the 12-month period was 0.26 kg day-1 for light-coated cattle and 0.20 kg day-1 for dark-coated cattle (P < 0.001). These findings suggest that coat characteristics are important indicators of behavioural adaptation, thermoregulation, and productivity in communally managed cattle, offering practical criteria for climate-smart livestock selection and grazing management.