Heat stress and cooling effects on dairy farm economics. Part 2 - the economic benefits of cooling the cows in the summer.

Dr. Flamenbaum, I consider a very good technical article with excellent data support, specifically in the economic negative effect of the milk production in hot conditions. But if you allow me, I want to add some personal experiences, as I am dairy specialist working in dairy production in hot environments since 1976. And according my criteria, I consider three types of hot conditions which are involved in milk production around the world, these are; Desert, Subtropical and Tropical. For me these three areas, have the common factor of the stress in the cows, which are very well relate in your main description, as; Depression in the feed intake, Feed efficiency, Reduce fertility, Depress the immune system and finally Reduction in the milk productivity. But according my approach and expertise, these effects have more or less incidence in the dairy herd and the productivity, according the conditions and the type of Hot Environment as: Desert, Subtropical and Tropical. I believe that wen we are into this specialty of milk production in hot conditions, we need to be more specific and made some differentiation, because the final effect in the cows is different as well the management and type of designing for buildings to be implemented will differ from one to another and of course the costing in the investing and in the operation. As an example, in my opinion the type of Hot Desert conditions for dairy production management is more feasible and relatively easy. To mention a few points; is more easy to control the cooling system, the reproduction is more successful and in the productivity, we can achieve 9 to 10 tons of milk by lactation (I am talking about 2,000 or 10,000 milking cows averages). Also with the years, for the adaptability process to this environment, the genetic suffer a general modification, which came in favor of the production factors (cattle size, reproduction, health, productivity, etc.) Wen we came into Subtropical environment’s systems of productions then the conditions change drastically, and the dairy herd suffers the consequences of the moisture in this environment. The main problem came from this factor mixed with the hot temperature where the THI came very high in summer, the main factor which relieve this conditions is when arrive the winter. As an example, the Subtropical condition in Florida USA are more benign, also the solution of Tunnel system for cooling is one of the best alternatives very common and the dairy farms more to the North of Florida suffer less the stress. But the Subtropical conditions similar like in Pakistan and some areas in India the winter is shorter as well the summer arrives at 7-8 month. Raining season is an influence factor and the period of the monsoon affect with high moisture and THI (90% of moisture 48GC), reduce the heat dissipation from the cows body, then impact in the reduction of the feed intake. For me, these conditions represent more negative incidence in the management than in the Desert conditions. The TMR in the feeding table came fermented very fast and spoiled, feeding 4-5 times a day is one alternative, but also the Aflatoxine incidence is an important negative factor to take into consideration. With all this factors the cows suffer a high depression in the immunity, with the increase of the disease as well more influence in the hormonal changes and the indirect side effects. As well the acidosis or sub-clinical acidosis and laminitis is one of the most negatives incidence factors. In the Tropical environments, I consider the worst medium for the milk production. I work for many years in the Amazon as well in Colombia and Venezuela tropical regions. Long time ago, I had a dairy farm with 1000 milking cows pure Holstein. To manage a dairy herd with a rainfall of 1,500 mm in the year and 36 GC and affections like anaplasmosis, piroplasmosis, rabies plus the commune disease as well acid soils for produce forage in the way to produce milk. These conditions are extremely challenging for work in dairy farming. I learn in this conditions the extraordinary powerful value of the crisscross system, using 10% -25% of local breeds (Bos Indicus type) and using at list 3 Taurus breeds, like; Holstein, Reed Swedish, Jersey. The genetic is the most important tool in tropical or subtropical conditions to keep the hybrid vigor increase the resistance to the diseases, best feed conversion, high reproduction and resistance to the heat stress. We can say that can be a complement of the cooling systems because for the resistance and adaptability to the environment reduce the cost of the cooling. What I want to clarify in this short presentation, is that when we are talking about Hot Conditions, is a big difference according the place where is the type of hot environment. When this conditions of heat stress are present in Europe, USA, Russia and also Turkey is a complete limited conditions, normally can present four stations and a short summer and the conditions are more benign, then is more easy to control the stress and of course the costing are lower. But when we talking about Desert, Subtropical and Tropical conditions then we define stressing areas of the world, where the milk production is required for to be underdeveloped areas and where the population required (specifically for the children) large amount of milk for survive, as the main vital source for feeding for them, then is our responsibility as a technicians and researchers, to found production alternatives simples and with reduce costing to help to improve the milk productivity. Gustavo Pourraid BS MS in Dairy science. Specialist in dairy production in hot environment’s (Desert, Subtropical, Tropical conditions) working as a consultant and technical adviser in Middle East, Africa, Asia and Latin America. pourraid@yahoo.com

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