The main goal of this study was to evaluate the Southeastern Brazilian climate conditions through temperature-humidity index (THI) and to present a bioclimatic mapping relating to animal and human thermal comfort. The THI values were estimated by air-temperature and relative humidity for a period from 1980 to 2000. Four intervals of THI were used to classify human performance (THI < 74: comfort; 74 < THI < 79: warm; 79 < THI < 84: hot and THI > 84: extremely hot) and two intervals to classify animal production (79 < THI < 84: dangerous and THI > 84: emergency). The results showed higher risk of thermal discomfort in the period from October to April, comparing to the period between May and September. The worst period was the one between December and March. Although it was observed that THIaverage values among 79 and 83 occurred in less than 3.6% of the time, humans as well as animals could suffer some amount of thermal stress during the hottest period of the day, affecting negatively both animal production and human comfort. THI greater than 84 was not verified on the Southern Brazilian region.
thermal environment; animal production; human performance
