A total of 73 Angus cross steers (body weight 309 ± 5 kg) were
used to determine the relationship between body temperatures
collected via a rectal thermometer and IRT of the average temperature
in the lacrimal region of the eye. The handling facility was
within a barn to reduce the environmental effects of wind or solar
radiation. Rectal temperature was obtained immediately following
the IRT measurements. The portable weather meter was used to
verify a lack of wind/draft within the barn. Rectal temperature
was obtained using a digital thermometer (GLA-M500 Agricultural
Electronics, San Luis Obispo, CA) and eye temperature was
obtained using a FLIR I40 infrared camera (FLIR Systems Inc.
Wilsonville, USA). All IRT and thermometer measurements were
obtained over a three hour span on the same day and both
measures were taken on each steer. The IRT measurements were
taken from a standard distance of one metre while the animals
were restrained in a squeeze chute.