A Health GIS Based Approach to Portray the Influence of Ambient Temperature on Goat Health in Two Different Agro-Climatic Zones in West Bengal, India

Abstract<br>The spatial and temporal distribution patterns of the livestock health status in the developing countries<br>like India are complex. In this regards, the application of Geographical Information System (GIS) is<br>valuable as it has many features that make it an ideal tool for use in animal health surveillance, monitoring,<br>prediction and its management strategy. The goal of the present study is to find out the effect of ambient<br>temperature on goat health in two different agro-climatic zones in West Bengal, India with the additional<br>help of GIS technology. The highest mean value of temperature (42.6 ± 1.5 ºC) has been reported during<br>the month of April or May in the season of pre-monsoon in Purulia. Survey of India (SOI) topographical<br>sheets (73 I/3 and 79 B/5) are used to map the study areas. Top sheets are scanned, geo-referenced and<br>then digitized with the help of GIS software. The biochemical and meteorological data are entered to the<br>newly prepared digitized map as the non-spatial data or attributes. Moreover, the present work aims to<br>confer an indication of the potential applications and usages of a GIS in the field of animal health for<br>advancing the knowledge about this innovative approach of goat heath surveillance and monitoring.<br>Keywords: Goats; GIS; Pre-Monsoon; Post-Monsoon; Purulia; Nadia.