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Heat stress in dairy cattle
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A rise in body temperature is a signal that heat stress has exceeded the heat-exchange capacity of the dairy cow. Previous studies have shown a strong positive correlation between vaginal temperature and respiration rate, demonstrating a stress response to an increased body temperature. Vaginal temperature was collected by using temperature probes attached to an external data logger. Although these devices were very sensitive to changes in body temperature of cows housed in tie-stalls, the...
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Dairy cows are very sensitive to heat stress, which has a significant economic impact for the farmer: not only loss of productivity and milk quality (increased somatic cells count), but also health related problems. The farmer is usually aware of some of the essential herd management practices necessary in this critical period, however some nutritional solutions may not be as known. In particular, probiotics, which, by improving rumen conditions and functions affected by the stress...
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Dairy cows experience heat stress in hot and humid weather because they have trouble getting rid of heat generated by digestion and metabolic processes. Cows experiencing heat stress have reduced milk production and reproductive performance. Heat stressed cows will have increased respiration rates, water intake and sweating, and decreased dry matter intake. You can read about tips for keeping cows cool on the web. Tools for fighting heat stress include providing plenty of fresh clean...
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Housing lactating dairy cows in six-row rather than four-row freestall buildings increases animal density and raises concerns about the level of heat stress. In the summer of 2000, Kansas State University conducted a trial to evaluate the effect of such housing arrangements on cow comfort. We measured temperature, barn humidity, and respiration rates of lactating Holstein cows in four-and six-row freestall barns located in northwest Iowa. Procedures Temperature and...
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This is the time of year to get serious about heat abatement strategies for your herd. Though we enjoy the warmer weather, most lactating cows perform best at temperatures from 40 - 65°F. Signs of heat stress start to occur at around 75°F. This spring, once you've installed your new fans and sprinkler systems and cleaned off your existing fans in the lactating herd, you also need to consider making sure that your close up dry cows are kept cool. Research has shown that cows experiencing...
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Dairy animals are considered as biological machines as they consume feed and use as a fuel to produce milk. There are certain changes in environment as well as animal physiology which create stress condition in animals. Stress may be considered as any thing that is applied to an animal from an outside source that has an effect on that animal's normal physiological activity. During stress, the performance of dairy animals is reduced. Yourself (1985) defined stress as magnitude of forces...
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Summer is fast approaching, bringing with it the promise of hot days. Benefits of cooling lactating cows are hard to deny with the plethora of data documenting increases in milk production and reproductive efficiency with the use of heat abatement systems. But what effect is the heat having on dry cows? These girls are exposed to the same stressful situations—often with shade trees as their only cooling provision. What long term effects result from heatstressed dry cows? Heat stress in...
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The sub-zero blasts Old Man Winter threw at us are but a memory. We smile as we turn our faces to the warm spring sun. Over the next few months, however, that same sun could cause major disruptions in your dairy herd. As a result of heat stress, you could see: * milk production drop 10 to 25 per cent; * increased days open; * depressed immune systems; * decreased fertility. Two sources...
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A new computer model available on the Internet can help ranchers predict the heat stress threat level to their cattle. It's hard to relax if your cattle are stressed, so the ability to predict and avoid potential stressors is essential. Fortunately, an online model developed by scientists with the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) provides information to help cattle—and producers—keep their cool when temperatures rise. ARS is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's...
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Herds of dairy cows include dominant and submissive individuals. Most of you can identify your herd's boss cow, and though serious brawls are not that common, mild aggressive interaction such as head butting and pushing, as well as non-aggressive, perhaps submissive behavior such as grooming, are visible on an on-going basis. Clearly cows are social beings that interact with each other. It would be reasonable to expect that a peaceful "society of cows" with minimal disturbances results...
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Each year it’s not unusual to see production drop 10 -15 lb. per cow. Waiting until hot weather subsides is not an effective management strategy as milk production lost is never regained once things get cooler. Here are five tips to alleviate summer heat stress. 1. Pay special attention to close up cows. Feed bunks must be covered to prevent spoilage from summer sun and soaking from thunderstorms. Fluctuation of intake prior to calving has very undesirable effects...
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The ideal ambient temperature for a dairy cow is between 41 and 77° F. At temperatures above 77° F, cows have to use energy to cool themselves through heat loss via surface skin and the respiratory tract. As ambient temperature increases, it becomes more difficult for a cow to cool herself adequately. High producing cows are the animals most sensitive to heat stress because of their high feed intake. Dry matter intake starts to drop (8-12%) and milk production losses of 20-30%, which may...
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Providing low-stress environment for cows proves wise investment Increasing your dairy farm’s efficiency doesn’t have to compromise animal well-being. Improving cow comfort can also be a longer term investment to increase your income. Paying attention to details is key. Pause during your daily routine to consider how you might implement management changes to improve the well-being of your cows. Problems that affect your cows’ behaviour have a direct impact on...
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There are many different housing ideas, concepts, and designs being used to raise dairy calves. What is the best housing design for raising dairy calves? The answer is there is no “best” design. Calves can be raised in many different kinds of facilities, whether it is new or a remodeled building on the farm. However, every design involves trade-offs. Choosing the right calf facility for your operation depends on the capital, labor, and management resources available....
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Summer heat stress is a main factor related to low conception rates in high producing dairy herds in warm areas worldwide. A research group of UAB Faculty of Veterinary Medicine has studied the impact of several climate variables on conception rates in high producing dairy cows in northeastern Spain by examining 10,964 inseminations. Reproductive efficiency has suffered a dramatic decrease since the mid 1980s despite rapid worldwide progress in genetics and management of high...
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Heat stress is a fact of life for most dairymen ... one you know you will have to deal with come summertime. In hot, humid conditions cows simply feel less like eating and, hence, milk production drops. The effects of heat stress, however, tend to be seen long after the high temperatures cool. According to dairy nutrition experts, production losses can continue for the remainder of the lactation, and can mean a loss of 5, 10, or even 20 pounds of milk production per day for each day that...
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With temperatures exceeding 36C in some parts of the UK over the last month, many people haven't needed to travel abroad this year in search of sun.
But many livestock are struggling to keep cool, dramatically affecting productivity.
Regardless of clear symptoms, heat stress clearly compromises cattle and sheep performance, says MLC beef and sheep scientist Liz Genever.
"Feed intakes and growth rates, ovulation and conception rates and bull and ram fertility are all likely to be...
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